ROVERS academy ended their three-match winless streak in style on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Liverpool at Brockhall.

Jake Simpson scored twice, with Phil Jones and Josh Morris also on the scoresheet, to impress a watching first-team boss Paul Ince.

It was the visitors who started the brighter though, forcing Rovers’ keeper Bjorn Bussman into action in the fourth minute as he pushed a header wide.

Rovers quickly took control though and almost stole the lead on 13 minutes, with Simpson flicking the ball over the Liverpool keeper but onto the roof of the net.

The opener came 10 minutes later. Morris’ corner kick was headed down by Grant Hanley and Jones was on hand to fire home from close range for his second goal in consecutive matches.

Simpson doubled the lead on 28 as, after a flowing move from right to left, Tom Hitchcock set Simpson free and he coolly slipped the ball under the advancing keeper.

Hanley then headed narrowly wide, Simpson was wayward with a close-range header and Hitchcock had an effort disallowed for offside, with Rovers deserving more than their 2-0 half-time lead.

The crucial third goal came on the hour mark. Hanley’s height again caused the visitors problems and after his header was cleared off the line, Simpson pounced to add his second of the game - despite Hanley’s appeals the goal was his.

Hanley was denied a fourth soon after by the Liverpool keeper before Jason Lowe and fired over and John Kennedy dragged a shot wide.

The final goal was added with 15 minutes remaining.

Simpson played the ball through to Morris and he finished comfortably with a shot across goal into the far corner.

Rovers could, and perhaps should, have inflicted more damage on their visitors, with Hitchcock seeing one strike tipped over the bar and another go narrowly over.