JASON Banton, Tom Hitchcock and Jordan Bowen gave Blackburn Rovers a deserved 3-0 win against Blackpool in the FA Youth Cup third round at Ewood Park.

Former Arsenal youngster Banton drilled home from 10 yards on 44 minutes after some neat play and cross on the right by Micah Evans.

Hitchcock made sure of the win on 82 when he smashed the ball into the net from close range after goalkeeper Chris Kettings had fumbled under pressure from Osayamen Osawe.

Bowen then saved the best till last as he bent the ball past Kettings in injury time from 20 yards.

Banton also hit the post in the second half, after rounding Blackpool's goalkeeper, as Rovers progressed into the fourth round for the first time in four years.

The hosts fielded a strong side including Phil Jones, who has enjoyed first team experience, and regular reserves Jackson Ramm, Tom Hitchcock, Jason Lowe and Jason Banton.

Rovers dominated possession throughout the first half but struggled to find a way past Blackpool's defiant rearguard action.

Banton went close on 13 minutes with a shot that deflected just wide,before calling goalkeeper Chris Kettings into action on 31 with a low strike from 20 yards.

Micah Evans squandered the best chance of the half when he volleyed over from close range on five minutes, while Josh Morris bent a shot wide just a few minutes later.

Banton almost gave Rovers a deserved lead in the dying minutes of the half, when he fired just wide from distance after a neat one-two with Hitchcock.

He made up for that miss minutes later though when he collected Evans' low cross, turned neatly and buried the ball past Kettings.

After the break, Banton continued to shine but should have doubled the lead on the hour mark, when he rounded Kettings only to hit the post from a tight angle.

At the other end Rovers stopper Josh Swann reacted smartly to keep out Adam Foster's stinging drive, while skipper Grant Hanley bravely blocked Biko Younda's goalbound effort.

Jackson Ramm's long-range shot was tipped over by Kettings on 68, after a mazy run, before Jason Lowe's curling free-kick was also saved by the busy Blackpool keeper.

Hitchcock made sure of the win on 82, when he converted into an empty net after Kettings had dropped Banton's cross.

ROVERS: Josh Swann, Jackson Ramm, Josh Morris, Jason Lowe, Grant Hanley, Micah Evans (Osayamen Osawe 76), Jordan Bowen, Tom Hitchcock (James Knowles 86), Michael Potts (Gearoid Morrissey 79), Jason Banton

SUBS: Matthew Urwin, Dami Ajagbe

BLACKPOOL: Chris Kettings, Jake Forshaw, Josh Roberts, Biko Younda, Kieran D'Arcy, Adam Mitter, Tom Barkhuizen, Kurt Bradley, Louis Almond, Liam Tomsett, Adam Dodd

SUBS: Adam Foster, Elliott Tarney, Kingsley Frances Reynolds, Joe Macdonald, Jake Rooney