Blackburn Rovers booked their place in The FA Youth Cup semi-finals for the third time in six seasons with a narrow win over a battling Luton Town at Ewood Park.
Lewis Hardcastle’s first-half free-kick proved to be the winner but it could have been so different had Rovers goalkeeper Andy Fisher not produced three fantastic saves before the break.
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Luton Town
The FA Youth Cup
Sixth Round
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Ewood Park, Blackburn
By Luke Baker
Rovers perhaps should have wrapped the game up in the second half but Stefan Mols, Lewis Mansell and John Askew all spurned great chances to see off the spirited visitors once and for all.
Tre Pemberton could have given Rovers the lead within 90 seconds, only to lash his shot over the bar but they went ahead regardless on 12 minutes.
Matty Platt was upended on the edge of the Luton box and Hardcastle struck the free-kick underneath the wall – with the ball taking a wicked deflection to leave Liam Gooch helpless in the Hatters goal.
Askew then saw his cross deflected on to the post by Akin Famewo soon after before Luton then came into the game as Fisher was equal to efforts from Jack Snelus and George Murray.
Rovers are into their third FA Youth Cup semi-final in six years
The young goalkeeper saved his best for last however, as he spectacularly tipped Snelus’ 25-yard piledriver onto the bar to ensure the sides went into the break level.
In the second half, Blackburn looked more likely to find the net and double their advantage but Mols saw his shot deflect wide, Mansell headed straight at Gooch from the resulting corner and Askew also missed an opportunity.
The Hatters pushed forward for a late equaliser but Famewo nodded an 87th-minute corner wide and Kyran McGhan-George lost his footing when through on goal to ensure that it is Rovers who will face either Chelsea or Reading in the two-legged semi-final.
