Nottingham Forest Reserves 1 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 4

JAMES Beattie terrorised yet another Pontin's League defence last night, smashing a first half hat-trick against Nottingham Forest to help Blackburn Rovers Reserves add three more points to their Premier Division title challenge.

Beattie, still only 19, has hit a real purple patch, recapturing the sort of scoring form which helped him stand out in the junior teams.

It wasn't always plain sailing for Rovers at the City Ground, as they allowed Forest to catch them too easily on the break in the first half. But it was a tremendous result for a largely inexperienced side.

Beattie fired Rovers ahead early on, only for Forest to hit straight back and equalise. But the striker was not to be denied and quickly restored the lead before heading in Luke Staton's corner for his hat-trick.

In the second half, Rovers tightened up and were well in control with Wayne Gill notching the fourth from Anders Andersson's pass and Beattie remained a threat throughout.

ROVERS: Fettis, Worrell, Coughlan, Reed, Brown, Johnson, Andersson, Gill, Staton, Beattie, Thomas (sub Fitzpatrick 85 mins). Subs not used: McCallion, Brewer.

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