Two goals from Joe Hugill, one in each half, put United into what appeared to be a comfortable lead but a late goal from the Lancashire lads provided the contest with something of a slightly nervy ending.
Neil Ryan’s lads could scarcely have been given a sterner test for our season’s curtain-raiser. The clubs have been locking horns at this level since Lancashire League days and it is invariably one of those ‘no quarter asked, no quarter given’ occasions.
And that could barely have been better illustrated when, within the opening minute, Rovers defender Lennie Cirino was shown the yellow card after scything down United’s French youngster Noam Emeran.