Garner's deflected cross gave Rovers the opening goal

GARY Bowyer's youth side battled their way through to a fourth round home date with Derby County after defeating Tottenham 2-0 this evening.

Joe Garner's cross took a wicked deflection off the boot of Troy Archibald-Henville to give Rovers the lead just past the quarter hour, and whilst it was a game that Rovers dominated for long periods it wasn't until the final seconds that victory was secured thanks to Jamie Clarke's solo effort.

Bowyer was delighted to include the experienced Nolan, Hodge and Garner in his side and their experience showed as they lead by example against a Spurs outfit that showed glimpses of promise, but failed to deliver.

Rovers attacked at will down the left in the opening minutes, Ryan Woods at the heart of everything that was good, Garner headed wide from the midfielder's centre on nine minutes, but it was straight down the throat of David Button the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Three minutes later Jamie Clarke showed off his electric pace to latch onto a Nolan upfield pass, he laid it off to Judge who centred, but Garner was again lacking accuracy with his header.

But on 16 Rovers took the lead in unfortunate circumstances for Spurs centre half Troy Archibald-Henville, Garner shaped to move the ball inside and curled in a cross that took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing the goalkeeper with the ball nestling into the back of the net.

Tottenham looked to rally through Senla, but a last gasp tackle from Thomson saved the day, the Scottish defender had an excellent match at the back.

It was more of the same in the second half, Rovers looking to take the game to the opposition but wary of Spurs' pace on the counter, just two minutes in Alan Judge showed great determination on the right to beat his man and cut inside before unleashing a fierce shot that Button did well to palm over.

Spurs really should have levelled on 66 minutes when Ryan Woods put Thomson under pressure with a back pass, Dawkins nipped in to steal the ball but blazed horribly over. Thomson made amends on 75 minutes with a stunning block to deny the Spurs striker.

Joe Garner went close with a fizzing effort that flew just a yard wide of the near post,

With five minutes remaining of the ninety Clarke unleashed a dipping shot that Button couldn't hold, but the ball just wouldn't drop for substitute O'Keefe and the chance was gone.

Jamie Clarke fires home the winner

But in the final seconds of three minutes of added time Rovers wrapped up the victory, Jamie Clarke showing great pace and skill to beat two defenders before firing high into the roof of the net for his seventh goal this season.

Rovers now face a home tie against Derby County in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

ROVERS: Fielding (c), Bateson, Thomson, Nolan, King, Judge, Hodge (sub O'Keefe 76 mins), Pezzoni, Woods, Clarke, Garner. Subs not used: De Vita, Somodi, Haworth, Winnard.

TOTTENHAM: Button, Riley, Hughton, Wells (sub Livermore 63 mins), Mills, Archibald-Henville, Davis, Lewis, Dawkins, Maghoma, Senla. Subs not used: Smith, Hollaway, Dixon, Hutton.

Booked: Woods, Thomson (Rovers), Hughton (Tottenham)

Today's Rovers World features an exclusive interview with Gary Bowyer and goalkeeper Frank Fielding, and subscribers will be able to see highlights on tomorrow's edition. Sign up now for just £1.99 until January 5th!.