Youngsters into the Semi Finals

Osayamen Osawe scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Blackburn Rovers clinched an FA Youth Cup Semi-Final spot with a 2-1 home win over Everton after 120 gruelling minutes.

Rovers dispatched Man United 3-0 in the previous round and this time were pitted against a renowned Everton Youth side that has recently spawned such talents as Jack Rodwell and Sheamus Coleman.

But Rovers progressed with a cracking display which matched and ultimately surpassed the talented Toffees.

Chelsea will be up next in a two legged semi-final.

Osawe curled a beauty past Everton goalkeeper Adam Davies from the edge of the area in the 102nd minute after the sides drew 1-1 in a frantic original 90 minutes.

Shane Duffy put the visitors ahead with a first-half header but Rovers equalised ten minutes from time through Grant Hanley.

Rovers made it difficult for themselves (as the first team normally does) on 42 minutes as Duffy headed home Jose Baxter`s curling free-kick.

But they broke Everton’s proud record of having not conceded in over 1,000 minutes without conceding a goal when Hanley, the Rovers captain, scrambled the ball over the line in the 80th minute after a massive hoo-ha in the Scouser box.

Ninety minutes passed and neither side could find a winner so thirty more minutes were played to decide the contest.

In the pulsating extra half-an-hour, Osawe struck the crucial blow with a supremely confident effort swept in after some fine build-up play 12 minutes into the first period of added time.

Everton piled on the pressure at the end but Phil Jones ande co stood strong at the back with a fine defensive effort as Rovers went mental at full time.

Who’d have guessed this Rovers Youth side were so good? The future looks bright.

The Rovers side that triumphed was –

Josh Swann, Jackson Ramm, Josh Morris, Jason Lowe, Grant Hanley, Phil Jones (Anthony O’Connor 83), Micah Evans (Osayamen Osawe 64), Jordan Bowen, Tom Hitchcock, Michael Potts (James Knowles 73), Jason Banton

Subs not used – Matthew Urwin, Filip Pivkovski