OLDHAM ATHLETIC RES 1 ROVERS RES 2 BLACKBURN Rovers advanced into the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup after goals from Raffaele De Vita and Keith Barker saw off OldhamAthletic.

De Vita pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Ryan Smith to fire Rovers into a first half lead, then an assured finish from Barker shortly after the break sealed a place in the final.

It was a comfortable victory in the end for Glyn Hodges' young side, who mastered the testing conditions at Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold ground better than their hosts.

Both sides took time to settle but it was Rovers who drew first blood in the 29th minute.

Smith scuffed a clearance straight to De Vita, who was just inside the area, and the young Italian showed great composure to round the keeper and slam a shot past a posse of defenders on the line.

Oldham had chances to draw level before the interval but Rovers' keeper, Frank Fielding, made sharp saves to deny Matthew Wolfenden and Ashley Kelly in quick succession.

Barker finally killed the tie off in the 49th minute when he drilled a crisp finish past Smith from 15 yards.

Rovers had further chances to add to their tally, but Dean Winnard headed over, and a Ryan Woods free kick was shovelled around the post by Smith.

In the final minute, the Latics pulled a goal back when Wolfenden turned smartly in the area and scored with a low shot into the bottom corner, but it proved little more than a consolation.

Now Rovers play either Accrington Stanley or Bolton Wanderers, who meet in the other semi-final at Clitheroe on May 7.

Rovers: Fielding, Bateson, Taylor, Woods, Winnard, Pezzoni, Haworth, Griffiths, Barker, De Vita, Olsson. Subs (not used): O'Keefe, Tsoumou, O'Connor, Paterson, Arestidou