Two early goals ensured Damien Johnson's young Development Squad progressed to the last 16 stage o the Premier League Cup after a comfortable win at Cardiff City.
Two strikes inside the opening 10 minutes from Tyler Magloire and Lewis Mansell put Rovers in command in south Wales.
And Joe Nuttall put the cherry on top of the cake by bagging Rovers' third and his 19th of the season in all competitions.
A lightning quick start from the visitors saw Nuttall himself go close only a few minutes in, before Magloire bagged the opener just six minutes into the encounter.
Ogo Obi went close to finding a quick-fire equaliser for the hosts when he fired just past the post, but Mansell doubled the lead soon after for Johnson's charges.
Cardiff were desperate for the next goal, and Obi hit the post just after Willem Tomlinson fired wide of the target for Rovers in an action-packed first half in the Welsh capital.
Rovers wanted to the kill the game as soon as possible, and only a brilliant save from Hugo Keto denied Magloire from grabbing his second and the visitors’ third.
But the Finnish 'keeper had no chance just three minuted later as Nuttall found the net after Cameron Coxe blocked his first attempt.
Rovers had to stay professional, and kept up the tempo to their credit, with Mansell firing wide from just inside the box before being denied by Keto with eight minutes to go.
The hosts went close to finding a consolation late on, but Mark Harris hit wide from a narrow angle.
As it was, Rovers ran out comfortable winners and with it, went top of the group to progress in the competition.
Johnson’s side are next in action on Monday 26th February against Southampton at the Lancashire FA HQ in Leyland, kick-off 7pm.
Cardiff City U23s: Keto, Coxe, Abbruzzese, Young, Watson, P. McKay, Gyasi (Waite, 46), Walters (Margetson, 46), Obi, M. Harris, Davidson-Miller (Humphries, 75).
Unused substitutes: Burwood.
Rovers: Fisher, Doyle (Carter, 67), Evans (Thompson, 77), Tomlinson, Magloire, Grayson, Travis, Hardcastle (c) (Buckley, 67), Nuttall, Simmonds, Mansell.
Unused substitutes: Albinson.
Goals: Magloire, 6, Mansell, 10, Nuttall, 54
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