LEEDS defender Henry McStay ended Rovers' interest in this season's FA Youth Cup after converting a hat-trick of penalties at Elland Road last night.

McStay kept his cool from the spot to beat keeper Steve Drench on three separate occasions to book United's place in the last eight.

And Rovers Academy Director Bobby Downes was desperately disappointed by the manner of his side's exit after they had promised so much.

"It was a disappointing night for us," said the Rovers coach.

"We got caught in the headlights a little bit, particularly in the first half.

"To concede three penalties in one game is a bit unusual to say the least.

"I thought two of them were justifiable but the other was a bit dubious.

"At the end of the day, they only had five shots at our goal and three of those were penalties."

Rovers actually took the lead in a scrappy first half when Jerome Watt struck the angle of post and bar with a rasping drive and, although Paul Gallagher's follow up was blocked, Watt then followed up to open the scoring.

However, that lead was to be shortlived as the referee then pointed to the spot for the first time on the night when Alex Bruce was penalised for handball and McStay confidently opened his account from 12 yards.

Disaster then struck again seconds before the break.

Luke Jones was harshly adjudged to have pulled down the dangerous Alan Lennon in the area and up stepped McStay again to make it 2-1.

Rovers missed a great chance to get themselves back into the game early in the second half when a shot from Watt struck the post but Jemal Johnson somehow blazed over with the goal at his mercy from five yards.

Then came the killer third penalty award which effectively killed the tie off.

This time, Drench was adjudged to have hauled down Lennon and McStay wasted no time in completing a bizarre hat-trick.

Rovers did make a fight of it in the closing stages as Peter Corvino drew a fine save from the keeper with a stinging free-kick and Gallagher then headed wide following more great work from Watt.

They finally did pull one back when substitute Sergio Peter finished confidently after racing clear in the 88th minute but by then it was no more than a consolation.

"We are disappointed to have gone out but probably the biggest plus for us was the performance of schoolboy Luke Jones who came in for Jay McEveley," said Downes.

"He was probably our best player on the night and I also thought Sergio Peter did well when he came on."

ROVERS: Drench, Whelan, Jones, Bruce, Taylor, Harkins, Black, Corvino, Watt, Johnson, Gallagher. Subs: Peter (for Johnson, 62), Walsh (for Black, 71), Weaver (for Corvino, 75)

LEEDS YTH 3 ROVERS YTH 2