BRADFORD RES 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS RES 2

ROVERS Reserves claimed a well-earned victory against Bradford City -- but the scoreline should have been more convincing.

Terry Darracott's young side, which included goalkeeper John Filan making his comeback from injury, overran their Yorkshire rivals in the first half but couldn't break the deadlock.

But second half goals from Steve Foster and Marc Richards put Rovers in front, and they held on despite a late consolation from former Rovers man Billy McKinlay.

The breakthrough came after 65 minutes when Darren Dunning's low left-wing cross was drilled into the far bottom corner by Steve Foster.

Nine minutes later, Foster turned set-up man with a smart backheel into the path of the unmarked Richards who beat Bradford keeper Jon Worsnop from close range.

City pulled one back eight minutes from time thanks to some quick-thinking from McKinlay, the only senior pro in the home side.

Marlon Broomes was caught napping from a short goal-kick on the edge of his penalty area and as the central defender turned, the ball was whipped away from him by McKinlay who then fired across Filan to score against his former club.

Rovers survived a late scare when, in injury time, Grant used his pace to slip wide of fullback Jonathan Douglas, but with two men in the middle screaming for a cross he lofted the ball several rows back in the empty Carlsberg Stand.

ROVERS: Filan, Douglas, Murray, Dunning, Broomes, Taylor, McNamee, O'Brien, Foster, Richards (Doyle 85), L Hardy.