Spot of fun in Ewood gloom

SPOT ON . . . Lee Croft scores the winning penalty. Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH

RYAN McLaughlin celebrated his car-share partner Lee Croft's winning penalty in the shoot-out with a huge, exaggerated knee-slide across the wet Ewood Park turf on his knees.

Goalkeeper Connor Ripley had earlier hammered in the sort of spot-kick any German would have been proud of to assist Athletic along the way to their bonus point against a Rovers under-21s side.

All played out in front of 471 spectators at Ewood Park, it was difficult to take the occasion too seriously at times.

Three of the four stands were shut and the Athletic supporters who did battle through rush-hour traffic to be present at this oddity rattled around in the lower stand near the dug-outs, singing ironic songs to amuse themselves.

"Can you hear Blackburn sing?" was one highlight. Well, quite. You could hear crisp packets scrunching and individual rain drops falling onto the corrugated roof.

Stand-in club Blackburn, brought into the fold because the likes of Liverpool and the Manchester giants' academies didn't fancy it, fielded 37-year-old Wes Brown and well-travelled 28-year-old Irish striker Anthony Stokes.

In a competition that was revamped in order to supposedly improve the chances of the England national team, so it was that the home side's Liam Feeney (29) flicked on to ex-Celtic man Stokes for his well-taken opening goal on 22 minutes, curled beyond Ripley's reach with the outside of his right foot from 12 yards out.

Gareth Southgate was not present last night to watch the future cream of the national crop, being otherwise engaged with some game or other later this week.

Athletic arrived here knowing a win would have assured the club of trousering £10,000 and landing a place in the knockout stage.

As it is, even with the two-point haul, a Fleetwood win at Carlisle tonight will knock Robinson's men out.

Not that the manager was too disappointed with his side's efforts on the night.

CHANGES

Making five changes and starting with three at the back, the recalled Josh Law fizzed an early attempt over the crossbar before Blackburn started to get into their stride, knocking the ball around quite smartly and forcing Ripley into a very good low stop of Connor Mahoney's drive.

Stokes netted from a route one clearance from goalkeeper David Raya that was flicked on by Feeney to hand the home side the lead midway through the opening period.

Law fired over with a free-kick after the quiet Calaum Jahraldo-Martin had been felled following some neat footwork 20 yards from goal and Billy Mckay just failed to get enough contact on his flicked header from a Jamie Reckord centre.

Elliott Bennett planted a header wide for the hosts before the interval but after half-time, it was Athletic who bossed the game.

A Croft surge right at the start of the second half fed Ryan Flynn arriving on the left side of the area and he struck his shot sweetly but could only direct it onto the underside of the crossbar.

Soon after, another half-time substitute Freddie Ladapo fired not far off target, before Croft fed the same player for the leveller. The cross from the right was a measured one and with Ladapo picked out, he smashed the ball home from 10 yards out using the outside of his right foot.

That is three goals in his last six games for the on-loan Crystal Palace forward.

Another cross from Croft picked up Charles Dunne, whose header was palmed over by Raya as Athletic pressed to go in front.

But a piece of brilliance from Feeney put Athletic behind again just after the hour. Taking up possession on the left touchline, the winger cut infield and hammered an unstoppable 25-yard rocket beyond the dive of Ripley.

Mahoney went close before Brian Wilson equalised, turning in neatly with his right foot from on the penalty spot an Ollie Banks free-kick swung in from deep on the left.

Croft had a shot blocked and Stokes headed beyond the far post but no further breakthrough meant a shoot-out ensued.

ACCURATE

Stokes went first and after Banks registered, Bennett put Rovers 2-1 up. Law hit the crossbar and Ripley saved well from Willem Tomlinson and when Mckay found the net it was 2-2 with three taken apiece.

Lewis Hardcastle scored for Blackburn and Ripley found the side netting of the goal with a very well-struck and accurate effort.

Mahoney and McLaughlin exchanged successes but when Feeney blazed over in sudden-death, Croft hit the net to spark the celebrations.