ROVERS and United shared the points with two goals apiece at Morecambe's Christie Park last night, though it was the hosts, with Graeme Souness and his full coaching staff watching, who ought to have won.
You might 'win nothing with kids' as the saying went, but both teams packed their second teams with youngsters and a thoroughly entertaining game ensued.
Under 17s skipper Joel Byrom gave Rovers a first half lead and Steven Reid scored a late leveller, but in between United turned the game on its head with two second half goals in as many minutes.
Along with Reid, Rovers fielded Matt Jansen, Paul Gallagher and Nissa Johansson with Premiership experience.
But it was the likes of Byrom, Paul Weaver, Gavin Peers and Sergio Peter, all heroes of the recent Youth Cup run, who caught the eye.
On 24 minutes, Peers released Reid down the right and the Irish international skipped to the byline and delivered a low cross for Byrom to scramble Rovers into a deserved lead.
Eight minutes later, an Eagles free kick from the left caused upheaval in the Rovers defence and at least three chances went begging before Yelldell flopped on the ball with relief.
Dangerman Kieran Richardson started the second half by delivering a precision far post cross which Kenny Cooper wasted by heading wide. Seconds later, Richardson limped off with a suspected hamstring injury.
Rovers, with Peter and Gallagher causing problems, dominated but failed to turn possession into goals.
On 70 minutes, skipper Michael Taylor was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, heading wide from a Peter cross.
Then, totally against the run of play, United rocked Rovers with a double whammy.
In the 71st minute a defensive error allowed David Jones a free shot then Jones' header found David Poole, who outflanked Peers, kept his cool and finished with a curling shot beyond the outstretched Yelldell.
Jemal Johnson, who had replaced Peter, injected urgency into a frenetic finale and on 87 minutes, the young striker stung goalkeeper Tommy Heaton's fingertips with a blistering shot which was pushed wide for a corner.
Rovers did get an equaliser in the last minute. Good work between Gallagher and Johnson resulted in the latter crossing to the far post where Reid arrived to fire home.
And it was no more than they deserved, Graeme Souness was convinced of that much!
Rovers: Yelldell, Peers (Black 90), Morgan, Weaver, Michael Taylor, Johansson, Reid, Gallagher, Jansen, Byrom, Peter (Jemal Johnson 71). Subs not used: Renton, Barr, Stopforth
Manchester United: Heaton, Lynch, Pugh, Tierney, Spector, Fox (Howard 70), Eagles (Picken 83), Jones, Poole, Cooper, Richardson (Ebanks Blake 49). Subs not used: Jowsey, Collett
ROVERS RESERVES...2
MANCHESTER UNITED RESERVES...2
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