Blackburn Rovers Reserves 4 Aston Villa Reserves 1

A YOUNG Rovers side turned in a sensational first-half performance to put Villa to the sword, with revitalised striker James Thomas grabbing two goals which should have become a well-deserved hat-trick.

And, if Ian Miller's side had been able to profit more from former Bolton favourite Alan Thompson's 44th-minute dismissal, it would have been a real rout.

Rovers included a number of their promising younger players and were repaid by a performance full of energy, enthusiasm and no little skill.

It certainly proved too much for Villa, despite the presence of seniors such as Lee Hendrie, Steve Watson, Colin Calderwood and Thompson.

Both Thomas and Ben Burgess, who gave Scottish international Colin Calderwood an uncomfortable night, went close before a flashing Thomas header, from Ryan Baldacchino's whipped-in left-wing corner gave Rovers an 18th-minute lead.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0 with a well-worked goal.

Burgess did some brilliant work inside the penalty area to set up the lively David Dunn. His shot was saved by Neil Cutler but Thomas pounced to fire the rebound high into the net.

A minute before half time, Thompson, booked earlier for a bad challenge on Dunn, brought down Thomas and was sent off. Thomas's penalty was superbly saved and Cutler also bravely stopped the follow-up from Paul Forsyth. But the winger made no mistake second time around.

Villa reshuffled and tightened up after the break, scoring a consolation through Gustavo Bartelt after a mazy dribble by Michael Blackwood in the 57th minute.

But Rovers got a deserved fourth in the final minute when Thomas's fierce shot was parried by the keeper and Burgess tapped it over the line without waiting to see if it rolled in anyway.

The woodwork had also come to Villa's rescue twice in a game where Rovers could have doubled their score with just a little more quality on the final pass or cross.

ROVERS: Miller, Richardson, Taylor, Short, Murphy, Baldacchino, Dunn, Dunning, Forsyth, Burgess, Thomas. Subs not used: Hawe, Hamilton, O'Brien, Howson, Bingham (gk).

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