A YOUTHFUL Rovers reserve side romped to a magnificent 4-0 win over Leeds United at Morecambe's Christie Park last night.

With most of the senior squad currently away on a four-day break at La Manga, manager Alan Murray called up a host of players from the Academy.

And Bobby Downes' young guns shone brightly as they totally overpowered a strong United side which featured former Ewood favourite Jason Wilcox.

David McNamee took the chance to impress a posse of scouts by capping a fine performance with a two-goal salvo.

And further strikes from Academy starlets Jerome Watt and Jonathan Walters completed an excellent evening for the Rovers youngsters.

It was the reserves second successive win following on from their 2-1 success at Bolton Wanderers last week.

And both Murray and Academy coaches Downes and Ian Miller were thrilled with the team's performance.

"I thought we out-fought and out-played them and our keeper Ryan Robinson didn't have a save to make all night," enthused Miller.

"We were very, very good and for such a young side we played with a great deal of youthful exuberance.

"Darren Dunning set the tempo in midfield and I thought Watt and Walters were outstanding.

"Jerome scored a magnificent goal while Jon looked a real threat upfront and fully deserved to get on the scoresheet for his perseverance alone."

The rout started in stunning style when Neil Danns whipped over a long cross which Egil Ostenstad knocked into the path of Watt in the 30th minute.

In the blink of an eye, the tricky midfielder then dummied to shoot before flicking the ball over a defender's head and crashing home a stunning volley from 18 yards.

McNamee then added a second two minutes before the interval when he raced half the length of the pitch, leaving a posse of defenders trailing in his wake, before firing low past the keeper's right from the edge of the box.

And Watt was again instrumental in the third shortly after the break, picking out McNamee with a wonderful slide-rule pass which the Scot finished in emphatic style.

It was left to the prolific Walters to complete an excellent night's work when he added the fourth in the 66th minute after charging down a backpass to send a 1500-strong crowd home happy.

"There was a real vibrancy about our football which made it a joy to watch," added Miller.

ROVERS: Robinson, McNamee, Murray, Dunning, Greer, Howson, Watt, Danns, Walters, Ostenstad. Morgan, Subs: Taylor (for Greer 76), Donnelly (for McNamee 67) Blakeman (for Watt 84) Not used Renton, Bell

RESULT: ROVERS RES...4 LEEDS UNITED RES...0

LEEDS: Milosevic, Richardson, Newey, Burns, Cansdell-Sherriff, Kilgallon, Keegan, Johnson, Farrell, McPhail, Wilcox. Subs: Folan (for Farell 63), Not used: Coyles, Shields, Farren, Ferguson.