According to the News and Star Carlisle's Wembley hangover-busting victory against Rovers proved a day when teenage talent made its merry splash in Greg Abbott's team.
It reported how: "Abbott has been waiting for the day when he could test out some of Carlisle's home-grown produce in a League One game without the fear of damaging repercussions if it all went wrong.
"United's advance to mid-table comfort by Easter weekend enabled him to do precisely that. Aldred's elevation to the back four has felt a long time in coming but Abbott is now entitled to argue that he picked his moment perfectly.
"With Ben Marshall (18 years old), Tom Taiwo (20) and Adam Clayton (21) also making some impressive statements in his team, United's manager must have felt like a teacher throwing open the door to the playground after a tedious morning in the classroom.
"The average age of the Cumbrians' side was raised by Harte, Price, Paul Thirlwell and Scott Dobie, all of whom helped provide a sturdy base for this triumph.
"But what gripped the gaze the most was the fizz and dash of Carlisle's performance; the electricity, in other words, that a cluster of capable young players can run through a team when things are going to plan.
"Some people say I don't give youth a chance, which I find incredible," said Abbott. "I will give anybody a chance if I think they are good enough."
"More than 5,000 spectators have now sat in favourable judgement on Aldred, who dealt so admirably with a brace of pedigree League One centre-forwards (Jo Kuffour and Paul Heffernan) that he was granted a standing ovation, which he milked with a crowd-pleasing air-punch before slipping away for a shower."
But the News and Star went on that "harder tests await Aldred than that posed by Rovers, who in their yellow-and-green attire resembled Norwich City without the venom.
Paul Trollope's team have surely played their way out of the play-off race with their mediocre efforts against Carlisle. But don't let that swipe any credit away from Aldred or his colleagues, who always looked keen to put some distance between themselves and the big-stage collapse in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.
"Rovers finally buckled, when Clayton was tripped by Hughes in the box, the makeshift left-back was shown a straight red card, and Harte bashed home his 15th goal of the season from the spot.
"Carlisle's feeling of strength was such that Rovers' startling, instant equaliser, when Heffernan sneaked behind the rearguard to blast home seconds after the restart, simply provoked them into renewed endeavour.
Four minutes later, they reclaimed the advantage, when Thirlwell launched an attack down the left which ended with Clayton playing in the overlapping Horwood, the left-back fizzing the ball across the six-yard box and Price applying the scoring header from close range.
"Depleted Rovers did not have the stomach for another comeback. They were put away for good in the 71st minute, when Price was felled by Elliott from Clayton's shrewd pass - why was the defender not dismissed, or even booked? - and Harte nervelessly stroked in his second penalty.
The Southend Echo described the Shrimper's 4-3 loss at the Memorial Stadium as the most "cruel, dramatic and undeserved" of their 22 defeats in all competitions this season.
In an entertaining topsy-turvy encounter the Shrimpers — who led 2-0 early on — produced what the Echo called "a committed and courageous performance, especially after Franck Moussa was needlessly sent off midway through the second half.
"Yet the excellent efforts of Steve Tilson's team ultimately went unrewarded as deep into added on time, Anthony Grant inadvertently diverted a right-wing cross from Stuart Campbell past his own goalkeeper."
The Echo pointed out that the Shrimper's Anthony Grant has set an unwanted club record, scoring more own goals than any previous Blues player.
Grant's scored past his own goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall at Rovers on Saturday and has now netted four own goals. He also scored for Bristol Rovers earlier on this season and has also done the same in games against Hartlepool United and Walsall.
Grant had previously been locked level with Paul Clark and Shane Westley on three.
Southend boss Steve Tilson told the Echo he felt his side should have taken at least a point from the dramatic clash at Rovers. "We deserved a lot more out of the game," said Tilson.
"We were the better team and created more chances than they did. We played ever so well and gave absolutely everything, so to lose like we did in the last minute of injury time was a massive blow." Tilson said he sending off was a fair decision but felt the Rovers penalty should never have been given.
The Echo revealed how it had planned to bring its readers the latest column from Southend United skipper and former Rovers player Adam Barrett.
It said; "But, amazingly, the club scuppered this week's Barrett's Banter because chairman Ron Martin took exception to a report which briefly mentioned that players were still waiting for their January wages to be paid."
