ROVERS Reserves saw their four-match winning streak ended by two second-half goals from teenage Sunderland striker Keith Graydon at a freezing cold Christie Park last night.

The 19-year-old Irishman struck twice in the space of six minutes, each time converting crosses from John Oster, one of three internationals in the Wearsiders' line-up.

Rovers, who had their own international presence in the shape of the returning Henning Berg, had enough chances to cancel out Graydon's goals but had only a last minute effort from Ciccio Grabbi to show for their efforts as Sunderland kept alive their slim hopes of winning the Northern Premier Reserve League title.

Sunderland have lost only twice this season and started in positive fashion against a Blackburn side with just a smattering of first-team experience.

Lively winger Thomas Butler went close with two efforts from the edge of the penalty area, while big striker Kevin Kyle volleyed an effort tamely wide.

However, with Rovers' impressive and youthful midfield quartet of Jerome Watt, Ciaran Donnelly, Neil Danns and Jimmy Corbett gradually beginning to make their presence felt, the home side dominated the closing stages of the first-half.

Grabbi sent a lob just too high from Gordon Greer's quickly-taken free-kick and Greer and Corbett both shot at Sunderland keeper Craig Turns following positive moves.

But the best two chances of the opening 45 minutes both fell to 17-year-old striker Paul Gallacher.

The youth team striker didn't look out of his depth at this level and showed his eye for goal by getting in the right place at the right time.

Turns was to deny him a goal though, as the Wearsiders' keeper followed up his 17th-minute save with another smart block from the Rovers youngster on the stroke of half-time after Danns and Donnelly had opened up the visitor's defence.

Rovers maintained their grip after the re-start but couldn't get their noses in front as Gallacher and Donnelly went close.

And Graydon made them pay as Sunderland snatched the lead against the run of play with 52 minutes gone, scoring at the second attempt after his initial effort had been well parried by Ryan Robinson.

There was an element of luck about that goal but there was no doubting the quality of the cross from Oster which allowed Graydon to sweep home number two shortly after.

The impressive Oster should have increased the lead but his miss, with only Robinson to beat, didn't prove costly.

Blackburn piled on the pressure in the closing stages with Turns saving from Jonathan Douglas and Corbett rattling the bar.

But unlike the FA Cup meeting between the senior sides, Rovers couldn't close a two-goal gap, Grabbi's looping header from a Corbett cross coming just too late.

Rovers: Robinson, Douglas, Morgan, Danns, Berg (Taylor 65), Greer, Watt (Pelzer 66), Donnelly (Hockenhull 75), Grabbi, Corbett, Gallagher.

Sunderland: Turns, Dickman, Capper (Sullivan 77), Scott, Collins, Schwarz, Oster, Medina, Kyle, Graydon (Leadbitter 70), Butler (Bellion 66).

BLACKBURN ROVERS RES...1 SUNDERLAND RES...2