Rover and out for PNE youngsters in cup clash

North End were knocked out of the Lancashire Senior Cup in the competition's opening round following a 3-1 defeat by Blackburn at Springfields

- writes JOHN SMITH.

PNE's side included Theo Carroll and first-year scholar George Gryba, who had both been unused subs on the first-team bench at Portsmouth.

Seventeen-year-old striker Shay Reid, who was recently signed from Clift-onville, was playing his last game for North End before joining up with the Republic of Ireland Under-19s squad.

Rovers had the first clear-cut chance of the game but Joe Boggan skied his shot over the bar.