MATTY Urwin produced spot kick heroics as a young Blackburn Rovers Reserves beat a strong Preston side to lift the Lancashire Senior Cup.

The young Rovers keeper pulled off two penalty shoot-out saves after the final finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

VIDEO

YouTube clip of the penalty shoot-out from 'ephemeraworld'.

Jamie Maclaren had given Rovers the lead before Iain Hulme headed home the equaliser 17 minutes from time at the County Ground, Leyland.

With no extra time, the match – watched by a decent crowd of 1,288 – went straight to spot-kicks.

And it was Urwin who was the hero, saving two Preston penalties while Clark Carlisle – on a season-long loan from Burnley – rattle the woodwork, before Maclaren dispatched the decisive effort to seal Rovers' 18th county crown.

There was a stark contrast in the experience of the two starting XIs.

With the senior squad away in Hong Kong, Gary Bowyer named a very youthful line-up.

Captain Gavin Gunning was the only Rovers player with any league experience, while Robbie Cotton, who made the matchday squad for an FA Cup tie against QPR last season, and James Knowles, who started against Accrington Stanley last weekend, operated in midfield.

Preston on the other hand were virtually at full strength, with former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll in goal and former Rover Keith Treacy on the wing.

Rovers had the better of the first half with Maclaren, Osayamen Osawe and 16-year-old Robbie Cotton all spurning good chances while Hulme went close at the other end.

Maclaren finally broke the deadlock 11 minutes in to the second half, superbly volleying home a fine threw ball by James Knowles.

But after Hulme’s headed equaliser, there was a touch of controversy as Neil Mellor’s late effort appeared to have crossed the line after crashing down off the crossbar.

The goal was not given and instead it was Urwin who was the hero of the day.