ROVERS YOUTH 3 ARSENAL YOUTH 1 (Arsenal win 6-3 on aggregate)

Walters 13, Morgan 42, Danns 60 Svard 45

ROVERS restored some much-needed pride after a passionate display of true East Lancashire grit left Arsenal's foreign army running for cover at Ewood last night.

The Gunners ultimately became the first side since Crystal Palace in 1978 to retain the coveted trophy after the damage had been done in the first leg.

But they were certainly made to sweat as courageous Rovers responded magnificently to Rob Kelly's pre-match battle-cry.

Friday night's 5-0 mauling at Highbury came as a bitter pill to swallow at the end of another impressive season for everyone at Brockhall.

So it was perhaps fitting that on the day Martin Taylor became the second Academy graduate to be called up to the England Under 21 squad, Rovers repaired their reputation in typically gutsy style.

"I'm delighted for them because they didn't deserve what happened to them on Friday night when you look at what they've done over the season," said Kelly.

"Since Friday we've licked our wounds, gone away and come back determined to try and win the game.

"And we won it with a much better performance.

"I thought everyone was terrific -- even the lads who didn't get on the pitch.

"They showed great resilience and great pride, not only for themselves, but for their families and the club.

"And they were determined to put the record straight."

Any pre-match nerves soon subsided when Rovers roared into a 13th minute lead through prolific marksman Jonathan Walters.

Danny Stone launched a free kick deep into the Gunners box and Neil Danns headed down for Walters to steer home his 37th goal of a magnificent campaign from three yards.

Clearly heartened by that early strike, Rovers showed magnificent resolve during the remainder of the half as the visitors began to apply the pressure.

Speedy striker Carlin Itonga twice wriggled his way to the by-line but some brilliant last-ditch defending prevented him from picking out a team-mate with a couple of dangerous centres.

Then, right out of the blue, Rovers suddenly found themselves 2-0 up with a goal out of nothing in the 45th minute.

There appeared to be little danger when Alan Morgan picked up a clearance out on the left but he drifted inside, weaved past a challenge and his shot from the edge of the box totally wrong-footed keeper Craig Holloway after taking a deflection off Danish defender Sebastien Svard.

For a brief moment Rovers fans started to dream about one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

But that man Svard had other ideas and reality was restored within three minutes.

Rovers defence failed to clear a Rohan Ricketts free kick and, when the ball eventually dropped to Svard, he pulled the trigger to devastating effect with a right foot volley which whistled into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

That finally killed any lingering doubts surrounding the destiny of the trophy but Rovers were far from finished and their industry and endeavour was further rewarded midway through the second half.

Midfield dynamo Liam Blakeman picked out Danns with a neat lay-off on the edge of the box and the powerful frontman sidestepped Svard before curling a low right footer inside the far post.

Arsenal missed a couple of late chances to reduce the deficit but Rovers were full value for their morale-boosting victory on a night they passed a huge test of character with flying colours.

THE TEAMS

ROVERS: Robinson, Cole, Woodhead, Donnelly, Stone, Hockenhull, Danns, Blakeman, Nelson, Walters, Morgan. Subs: Watt (for Blakeman, 85), Bell (for Danns, 89) Not used: Black, Fitzgerald, Renton.

ARSENAL: Holloway, Bailey, Chorley, Sidwell, Svard, Garry, Volz, Ricketts, Itonga, Aliadiere, Thomas. Subs: Brown (for Itonga, 68), Santry (for Volz, 87) Not used: Jordan, Hoyte, Nicolau.

MATCH FACTS

Goal Attempts: Rovers 6 Arsenal 6

Shots on target: Rovers 3 Arsenal 4

Woodwork: Rovers 0 Arsenal 0

Offsides: Rovers 1 Arsenal 0

Free kicks: Rovers 16 Arsenal 8

Corners: Rovers 1 Arsenal 4

Bookings: None

Referee: Jeff Winter 9

Attendance: 2,411