A BRIEF appearance by Martin Taylor was the highlight for a strong looking Rovers side who crashed to a Paul Gascoigne inspired Everton at the Auto Quest Stadium last night.

Rovers included the likes of John Curtis, Craig Hignett, Alan Mahon and Marcus Bent in their side, but were well beaten.

The pace and trickery of Danny Cadamarteri on the right wing, coupled with Gascoigne, illuminated a lively first half every bit as much as an impromptu fireworks display that took place outside the stadium just after the kick-off.

Cadamateri was in sparkling form and tormented his marker, Stuart Howson, every time he collected the ball.

Everton controlled much of the first half, with the midfield promptings of Scot Gemmill and Gascoigne undoing the Blackburn defensive ranks time and again.

Ironically though, it was Rovers who almost took the lead when a corner from the right was sliced wickedly against his own goalpost by Kevin McLeod.

Everton opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Gemmill and Gascoigne combined again and created an opening for Nick Chadwick who placed a fine low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Steve Simonsen then did well to block a point-blank header from Marcus Bent, before Everton doubled their advantage.

Cadamarteri again eluded Howson and pulled the ball back for McLeod to blast past Alan Kelly.

The second half was a rather more low key affair, with few goalscoring opportunities at either end.

On 65 minutes, Everton claimed their third goal - and, fittingly, Cadamarteri was the scorer.

Tony Hibbert picked him out with a perfectly weighted through pass, and Cadamarteri flicked the ball cleverly inside his marker before curling home a lovely, precise shot.

Taylor continued his comeback from injury as he immediately replaced Curtis after Everton's goal.

EVERTON: Simonsen, Hibbert , Cleland, Stubbs, Unsworth, Gemmill (Clarke 71) , Cadamarteri , Gascoigne (Pilkington 78), Chadwick (Curran 56), Moore, McLeod. Subs not used: Valentine, Eaton.

BLACKBURN ROVERS: Kelly, Curtis (Taylor 66), Howson, Hignett, Greer, Kenna, Mahon, Dunning, Ostenstad, Bent, O'Brien (McNamee 66). Subs not used: Robinson, Corbett, Murray.

RESULT: EVERTON RESERVES...3 BLACKBURN ROVERS RESERVES...0