Josh Lewis celebrates his opening goal. (Image: Ross Halls)
FAST START
John McGreal and Chris Casement's side made a superb start to the game and opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a great team move.
Tudor Mendel showed his skills down the right, before finding Luca Fletcher, whose ball across goal found Josh Lewis at the far post and the full-back fired the ball into the top corner.
Luca Fletcher put the young Blues 2-0 in front. (Image: Ross Halls)
TWO TO THE GOOD
It was a cold evening for this writer, though the entertaining game was hotting up, with both sides threating to score - and it was Town who doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark.
Fletcher, who was having a lively first half, made it 2-0 when the Man City loanee pounced on a mistake and kept his composure as he raced towards goal to slot the ball under the Rovers goalkeeper.
Oliver Wilkinson battles for the ball. (Image: Ross Halls)
ROVERS' COMEBACK
The visitors had the ball in the back of the net in the 40th minute but Igor Tyjon was adjudged to be offside. The Lancashire outfit did get a goal back just before half-time however, as Osman Kamara turned in Valentin Joseph’s low cross.
They went on to level the game five minutes after the restart,as Kamara bagged his second of the evening as he finished off a counter attack.
Blackburn Rovers players celebrate their late winner. (Image: Ross Halls)
EXTRA-TIME HEARTBREAK
After a thrilling 90 minutes of football, the game was taken to extra-time which was a back and forth affair with Town pushing to reclaim their lead.
However, it was Blackburn who found a later winner as they were awarded a penalty with just five minutes remaining after Nathan Dlamini was fouled in the box. The visitors’ skipper, Aodhan Doherty, stepped up and fired the spot-kick into the net.
The young Blues pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but were unable to find a leveller, before the final whistle confirmed Rovers' place in the quarter-finals.
Ryan Doherty, pictured during the game. (Image: Ross Halls)
FIRST LOOK AT NEW SIGNINGS
In the starting XI, Town included all three January development squad additions in goalkeeper Nick Bilokapic, midfielder Ryan Doherty and forward Frankie Runham.
Bilokapic, who joined from Peterborough, made some key saves throughout the game, while Doherty, who joined from Stevenage, showed some nice touches and bite in the midfield.
Runham, who joined on loan from Chelsea, had a lively start to the game showing attacking threat but drifted before he was replaced..
This was disappointing result for young Blues, but it’s been an impressive season so far from the U21s, who are currently top of Premier League 2.
Town U21s: Bilokapic, Elliott (c), Lewis, Mthunzi, Wilkinson, Turner, Mendel (Adebayo 105), Doherty (Wood 91), L Fletcher (Eldred 91), T Taylor, Runham (Pitts 65).