RESERVE team boss Alan Murray was left to rue a host of missed chances as Rovers' second string completed their league programme with a hard-fought point against Everton last night.

Needing a win to boost their hopes of a top-five finish, the home side made all the running against the Toffees on a lively surface but, despite all their pressure, they could not find a way past visiting keeper Andrew Pettinger.

Everton carved out the first chance of the night when Joe-Max Moore forced Ryan Robinson into a diving stop in the opening five minutes.

But it was all Rovers for the remainder of the half as Jerome Watt volleyed over and Egil Ostenstad had a shot blocked.

Perhaps the best chance of the game fell to Jonathan Douglas on the stroke of half-time, however, but Pettinger somehow arched his back to tip his close-range effort over the bar.

ROVERS RESERVES...0 EVERTON RESERVES...0

ROVERS: Robinson, Curtis, McNamee, Danns, Taylor, Greer, Watt, Douglas, Ostenstad, Corbett, O'Brien. Subs: Hockenhull (for McNamee, 50), McEveley (for Watt, 67), Renton (for Robinson, 87) Not used: Morgan, Donnelly

EVERTON: Pettinger, O'Hanlon, McLeod, Pilkington, Clarke, Southern, Tal, Linderoth, Moore, Osman, Eaton. Subs: Cole (for Linderoth, 46), Curran (for Moore, 46) Not used: Symes, Carney