ROVERS YOUTH 2 COLCHESTER YOUTH 2

ROB Kelly's young guns face a tricky trip to Layer Road next Wednesday after livewire striker Lloyd Opara brought United back from the brink at Ewood last night.

Colchester looked dead and buried after Rovers had raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 22 minutes thanks to goals from prolific strike-duo Mark Byrne and Jon Walters.

But the impressive Opara then took centre stage, stunning keeper Ryan Robinson with a delightful chip midway through the first half.

And worse was to follow when he pounced again from close range on the hour mark to earn his side a well deserved replay. "We're disappointed not to go through in the end because we probably had enough chances to win it," said Kelly.

"But we never played as well as we know we can play.

"In the first 25 minutes we did ever so well, scored two good goals, and Liam Blakeman then hit a post.

"If that had gone in it would have been game over.

"But, credit to them, they didn't fold and it won't be easy going down there now." Rovers made a storming start, crafting a brilliant opener after just 11 minutes.

Neil Danns was the architect, turning past his marker in midfield before releasing Byrne down the right and the blond bomber raced away from a defender to float a deft chip in off the post from the tightest of angles.

Rovers then made it 2-0 on 22 minutes when Ciaran Donnelly sprayed the ball out to Alan Morgan on the left and he outfoxed Dwayne Edwards before crossing for Walters to head home.

Blakeman then struck a post after cutting in from the right before Opara struck back in spectacular style, chipping Robinson from 25 yards. That bucked up the visitors and they stepped up a gear after the break as Marc Canhan and Tristan Chambers both went close.

And the equaliser finally arrived on 60 minutes when Chambers burst down the right and centred for Opara to slide home from close range.

Rovers had late chances to nick it as Glen Williamson saved efforts from Danns and Jerome Watt.

But the visitors deserved a second bite at the cherry after a couragous fightback.

Rovers: Robinson, Hockenhull (Cole, 75), Woodhead, Donnelly, Taylor, Stone, Danns, Blakeman, Byrne (Watt, 71), Walters, Morgan.