Blackburn Rovers Reserves 1 Manchester United Reserves 0

A SUPERB free kick from Lee Fitzpatrick gave Rovers a well-deserved win over Manchester United in last night's Pontin's League clash at Ewood.

There were only nine minutes remaining when Fitzpatrick caught United off guard with a piece of quick thinking.

As they tried to organise their defence, he belted a dipping, swerving shot into the far top corner from more than 25 yards and justice was seen to be done as the same player had struck the United crossbar with another spectacular drive as early as the third minute.

MUTV were screening the match 'live' but would not have been too happy with the content of their production. For the young Rovers created chances throughout the game against a side skippered by David May, booked for a second-half challenge.

There were some excellent performances in the Rovers ranks, with Jimmy Corbett finally looking back to full fitness after his broken leg and tormenting a United defence with plenty of senior experience in the shape of May, Wes Brown, John Curtis and Michael Clegg. Central defenders Keith Brown and Graham Coughlan protected goalkeeper Anthony Williams so well that he was not really extended until deep into stoppage time when he made a one-handed save from Mark Wilson.

And Ben Burgess, one of two Rovers players booked in a competitive game, was desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as the Academy under-17 striker caused United a host of problems, usually from crosses by Corbett or David Worrell.

Rovers should have had more goals, through Burgess, Corbett and Oumar Konde, who ran himself to a standstill but failed from the clearest opening of the night when he tried to take the ball round the keeper.

Still, it was a very encouraging performance from a very inexperienced side.

ROVERS: Williams, Worrell, Coughlan, Brown, Richardson, Corbett, Konde (sub Murphy 86 mins), Scates, Fitzpatrick, Hamilton (sub McAvoy 59 mins), Burgess. Subs not used: Woodfield, D Dunning, Stewart.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.