Blackburn Rovers Res 3-0 Oldham Athletic Res
Stu Vose

Premier League side Blackburn proved too much for Athletic as the second string went down 3-0 at Rovers' Brockhall Village training complex.

Lewis Alessandra hit the bar in the early stages, but Rovers assumed a lead they would never lead through a neat finish from Jamie Clarke.

Debutant Nick Blackman - signed this week from Macclesfield - jinked through to add a second just after the hour before the hosts added a penalty in the final minute.

Craig Davies completed the full 90 minutes for Athletic, who took the opportunity to assess two of trialists, one a goalkeeper.

With the returning David Dunn boosting the midfield, Rovers began brightly but Latics' Alessandra was unlucky when his close-range effort crashed off the crossbar six minutes in.

Blackman could have had a dream start to his Rovers career when a defensive error saw him go one-on-one, but the trialist stopper spread himself well to save bravely at close range.

Nathan Kilcourse came close with a deflected shot following some neat interplay on the edge of the box 15 minutes in.

However, the hosts' quality up front told two minutes later when winger Andy Howarth threaded a ball through for Clarke, who composed himself and finished well from close quarters.

It could have been two soon afterwards when Rostyn Griffiths flicked a corner into the path of Blackman, who rammed a shot against the bar with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Despite a lack of chances a young visiting side were attempting to move the ball wherever possible against a strong Rovers outfit.

Ryan Brooke had their only other real chance of the game just before the hour - the youngster forcing keeper Mark Bunn into a smart save with a low snapshot from Davies' cross.

Rovers made the game safe with 23 minutes to play as the tricky Blackman weaved his way through Athletic's defence and guided a low shot into the far corner.

Sub Marcus Marshall came close with an angled effort in the closing stages, but Rovers wrapped up the victory when the trialist left-back tripped his man in the box and Aaron Doran rolled home the resulting penalty.

The result sees Athletic exit the Lancashire Senior Cup for 2008/09.

Latics: Trialist, Rose, Trialist, Rowney, Esdaile, Stam, Lee, Kilcourse, Alessandra (Eaves), Davies, Brooke.
Subs Not Used: Bembo-Leta, Cowan, McCall.