TWO goals in as many minutes established Rovers reserves' authority early as they overran a young Bradford City outfit at Christie Park, Morecambe last night.

David McNamee and Jimmy Corbett whipped Rovers into the lead and teenage maestro Jerome Watt added a third in the second half.

Trialist Tordur Gudjonsson smashed home a stunning goal for the Bantams, but it was mere consolation as Rovers were in control throughout.

In truth, Alan Murray's men should have had a hatful.

Fresh from a 5-0 drubbing of Leeds United's second string seven days earlier, it seemed they would run riot and romp to another Roses whitewash.

But despite an obvious gulf in class and two efforts which hit the bar - one in each half from Corbett and skipper Jon Douglas respectively - Rovers had to rely on comical errors by the visitors' defence to give the scoreline a semblance of reality.

Bradford had the first chance of the game - their only goalbound effort of the first half. In the second minute, Danny Forrest forced an excellent diving save from World Cup hopeful Alan Kelly, making a welcome return from a knee injury.

Soon after, Rovers were two ahead and almost out of sight.

On 10 minutes, Jimmy Corbett crossed and Neil Danns carved out space for full back David McNamee to fire home from six yards.

A minute later, goalkeeper Jon Worsnop and defender Andrew Long totally misread the script and as they argued Corbett chipped over the hapless pair into an unguarded net.

Rovers took a stranglehold on the game and Watt went close with a spectacular overhead kick soon after the break.

However, a rare lapse of concentration allowed the visitors a glimmer of hope.

On 54 minutes, Icelandic international Thordur Gudjonsson, currently on loan at Preston North End and hitherto anonymous, popped up in space 25 yards out and rifled a precision strike into the corner past Kelly's despairing right hand.

However, Rovers finished the job in the 71st minute when another glaring defensive error between goalkeeper and full-back allowed Jerome Watt to roll the ball home.

ROVERS RESERVES...3 BRADFORD RESERVES...1

ROVERS: Kelly, Hockenhull (Michael Taylor 73), McNamee, Danns, Martin Taylor, Greer, Watt (Donnelly 76), Douglas, Ostenstad, Corbett, O'Brien. Subs not used: Robinson, Morgan, Nelson. Bookings: Greer 19, Ostenstad 80

BRADFORD: Worsnop, long, Brodhoe, McGahey, Morgan, Penford, Gudjonsson (Swift 76), Locke (Bentham 86), Forrest (Flynn 90), Lee. Subs not used: Prudhoe, Richardson. Bookings: Locke 39, Penford 57, Worsnop 82, Bentham 90