Barclays Premier Reserve League final
Chelsea beat Blackburn Rovers 5-4 on penalties to win the Barclays Premier Reserve League title.
The final finished 1-1 at Stamford Bridge but the Blues held their nerve through the sudden-death shoot-out, scoring all their kicks with Michael Potts missing for the visitors.
Mauro Formica had put Rovers ahead at half-time but Todd Kane levelled late on to force the dramatic decider.
It was a lively start by both sides with Chelsea almost taking the lead after just two minutes as Ryan Bertrand's cross was met by a powerful header from George Saville only for Jake Kean to make a fine save.
Rovers hit back and captain Jason Lowe, who made his Barclays Premier League debut on the same ground, fired over from 20 yards.
Micah Evans had a shot blocked at close range by the Chelsea keeper who did well to redeem himself after a sp illage.
Almost immediately Josh Morris had a 20-yard free-kick well saved by Ross Turnbull in the home goal.
head home
The southern section champions rallied and Saville had a low 20-yard free-kick saved by the keeper to his left before Zac Aley had a good effort deflected narrowly wide for the visitors.
Chelsea almost took the lead on 18 minutes when Milan Lalkovic wriggled past Matthew Pearson down the left and cut into the box. From a tight angle he hit a powerful shot which Kean did well to save to his left before reacting swiftly to gather the loose ball.
Within a minute Rovers had gone in front as Lowe broke swiftly through the inside right channel. He looked set to let fly but instead crossed on the run for Argentinian midfielder MAURO FORMICA to head home unmarked.
The northern section champions survived a scare when Bertand's left-wing cross dropped onto the bar on 22 minutes.
Formica sent a chip just over and the hosts replied with Carl Magnay's left-wing corner being sidefooted wide at the near post by Adam Phillip.
Lalkovic dribbled across the visitors' box only to see his shot blocked well by Pearson and then Phillip fired wide when well placed 16 yards out.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Rovers goalkeeper Kean needed lengthy treatment following a nasty collison as he jumped for a corner in a crowded goalmouth.
Nathaniel Chalobah headed over from eight yards as the home side pressed for an equaliser.
On 55 minutes Phillip's long-range shot hit Andy Parry and looped towards the Rovers net to cause Kean a few anxious moments before it went for a corner which saw Chalobah slice wide.
Chelsea were having the better of it and Conor Clifford fired well over from 25 yards.
immediate dividends
Gokhan Tore clipped the bar with a cross from the left before Rovers sent on Jackson Ramm for Micah Evans on 62 minutes.
Rovers should have stretched their lead three minutes later when Formica's chip put Tom Hitchcock through one-on-one. But the son of former Chelsea keeper Kevin Hitchcock fired over the bar.
With 14 minutes remaining Kean saved well from a left-sided free-kick by Phillip and Kane hit the bar as Chelsea stepped up the pressure.
Rovers sent on Osayamen Osawe for Hitchcock and then James Knowles for Formica. Lalkovic rounded the keeper but the Blackburn defence got back quickly and in numbers and Pearson blocked the shot on the line.
Chelsea made a triple substitution witnh 11 minutes on the clock in a desperate attempt to retrieve the match - and it paid immediate dividends as TODD KANE fired a rasping shot into the roof of the net from 16 yards.
Ross Turnbull in the Chelsea goal sliced a clearance to Aley but from 40 yards he was unable to direct his first-time shot on target and the ball drifted wide of the unguarded goal.
Kane tried his luck again, this time from 30 yards and was only just off target in the final minute. In stoppage-time the defender hit the side-netting after a strong run forward.
Penalty shoot-out
The match finished 1-1 and with no extra-time, the final was decided on penalties for a second successive season.
Josh Morris was first up for Blackburn and scored to the keeper's right.
Conor Clifford took Chelsea's first kick and put the ball in the same place for 1-1.
James Knowles sent Turnbull the wrong way to restore the lead.
Gokhan Tore calmly brought the scores level once more.
Micah Evans blasted home for 3-2 to Rovers.
Milan Lalkovic sent Kean the wrong way to restore parity once more.
Michael Potts went down the centre and saw his kick blocked by the keeper's legs to hand the home side the advantage.
Adam Phillip made it count beating Kean's dive for 4-3.
Jason Lowe squeezed home to make it 4-4.
Michael Woods scored to win the trophy for Chelsea 5-4 on penalties.
Teams
Chelsea: Turnbull, Kane, Kalas, Magnay, Bertrand (Deen-Conteh 79), Chalobah(Woods 79), Tore, Clfford, Lalkovic, Saville (Devyne 79), Phillip. Subs: Gordon, Walker (gk).
Blackburn Rovers: Kean, Henley, Morris, Lowe, Pearson, Parry, Evans (Ramm 62), Potts, Hitchcock (Osawe 77), Formica (Knowles 78), Aley. Subs: O'Connor, Urwin (gk).
Referee: Michael Jones.
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