A YOUNG Irish lad by the name of Damien Duff won't be collecting an FA Youth Cup winner's medal this season, writes PETER WHITE.

But if the silky skills of the Rovers left winger don't make a significant mark on the senior game in the years to come then English football must possess unprecedented reserves of potential stars.

And Duff hasn't been the only one to shine in Rovers' best FA Youth Cup campaign since they won the trophy in 1959.

There was deep disappointment at Ewood last night, as Rovers failed to claim a place in the final.

But there was certainly no cause for despondency. If there is such a thing as glorious failure, then this was it.

Against a Crystal Palace side relying primarily on organisation, hard work and physical superiority to protect their 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Rovers did everything that could have been asked of them, except win the game.

They were clearly the better quality team. But failure to handle a Palace set piece in the closing minutes cost them a tie they looked likely to win once they had pulled back what was, by then, a two-goal deficit.

The fans had enjoyed the wing wizardry of Duff, admired the attacking thrusts and superbly-taken goal of James Thomas, cheered the midfield drive of David Dunn and applauded the composure of big man Martin "Tiny" Taylor at the back.

The Londoners made their intentions plain from the start - what we have we hold - and Rovers didn't find it easy to break them down.

It was livewire Dunn who went closest to the first goal with a scorching 25-yard drive which ricocheted off the bar in the 13th minute.

Ironically, it was a Palace goal on 58 minutes - after Andy McAvoy had missed a great chance - that really revved up Rovers. They claimed offside as David Stevens raced through but there was nothing dubious about his finish, low, right-footed into the corner.

Just two minutes later, Rovers were level as Damien Johnson got Duff away yet again and a superb cross was headed in by Keith Brown.

The aggregate scores were level on 63 minutes when set-piece expert Luke Staton whipped in a corner and Thomas's header flashed into the net.

The visitors clinched the winner immediately after claims for a penalty when Staton was challenged in the box.

A long throw caught keeper and defenders napping and Andrew Martin slammed a shot high into the net at the near post.

ROVERS: Stewart, Trudgill, Taylor, Brown, Richardson, Dunn, Staton, Johnson, McAvoy, Thomas, Duff. Subs not used: Owler, Fitzpatrick, Obeng.

PALACE: Ormshaw, Hibburt, Carlisle, Kennedy, Woozley, Mullins, Stevens, Graham, Martin, Morrison, Folan. Subs: Dsane (for Morrison 89 mins), Clarke, Kendall.

Ref: D Kellett (Bradford). Att: 3,000.

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