Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 1-2 Rotherham United (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 1-2 Rotherham United (U18s)
FA Youth Cup Second Round
Tuesday 16th November 2021

A cruel, stomach-churning twist in the dying seconds of normal time helped Rotherham United progress in the FA Youth Cup at Doncaster Rovers' expense.

Rovers looked all set for a trip to West Bromwich Albion in Round Three having taken the lead through Owen Scattergood's strike in first half injury-time. They'd squandered the chance to double their advantage with top scorer Jack Goodman being denied from the penalty spot, and it proved costly as Curtis Durose slammed home a deflating and dramatic equaliser with just 32 seconds remaining to force extra-time.

Ciaran McGuckin then headed in from close-range during a breakaway attack early in extra-time to complete the turnaround and, despite Rovers' best efforts, they couldn't force penalties and were thus left to ponder what might have been.

Having won four of their five previous fixtures - including a dramatic 2-1 success at Basford United and 2-0 victory over Rotherham in the EFL Youth Alliance a month ago, Rovers went into this clash in a confident mood and determined to impress in the first youth team fixture played on the main Keepmoat Stadium pitch for more than three seasons.

They knew it wouldn't be easy though. Rotherham, whose style won't suit football purists, are always the same; big, strong, fit, efficient, but above everything, well-drilled and good at what they do. They certainly aren't easy to play against so a close game was therefore expected.

Gary McSheffrey made one change to the side which won in the First Round as Jak Whiting (a natural leader who can galvanise others) returned in defence at the expense of Michael Nesbitt who missed out on a place in the matchday squad altogether due to injury.

Attacking towards the North Stand in the first half, Doncaster began with purposeful intent and almost took the lead within two minutes as Goodman raced onto a through ball and rounded the Rotherham 'keeper, but forced out wide to a tight angle, his eventual effort hit the side-netting.

The Millers looked most threatening at set-plays and an early long-throw was headed on and gathered by Luke Chadwick, but it was Rovers who, unsurprisingly, looked tidier on the ball and they knocked it around quite well at times with Scattergood and Corie Cole posing a major threat. The duo soon combined for a gilt-edged chance where, remarkably, the ball somehow didn't go into the net. Scattergood was the instigator with some nifty footwork and play inside the box and he provided a pull-back for Cole whose low toe-poke effort hit the inside of the post, trickled across the goal-line and somehow went wide of the opposite post.

How it stayed out was a mystery (especially considering the penalty area was busy) but Rovers remained good value on the ball with Tavonga Kuleya being narrowly off-target with a further attempt before the first half midway point.

Slowly but surely, Rotherham began to impose their presence and own style a bit more and Billy Carroll headed wide from a set-play, before Dan Wilds was needed to produce a block from Ben Hatton's shot close to the half-hour mark.

The game had become a bit of a battle between two contrasting styles. Rotherham remained dangerous when delivering crosses from wide areas (along with dead ball scenarios) whilst Donny continued to try and work their way through their opponents with incisive passing and good build-up play.

Definitive clear-cut openings remained at a premium though and the run up to half-time was stop-start, partly down to Scattergood picking up a knock which required treatment and resulted in two minutes of first half injury-time.

And it was during those two minutes when the breakthrough moment came!

Whiting played a key role - showing persistence and presence-of-mind to get in a position to win the ball back high up the pitch and his threaded pass into Scattergood was perfect for the first-year forward who whacked the ball with aplomb past the Rotherham 'keeper before being mobbed by his jubilant team-mates who knew this was a brilliant time to break the deadlock.

With a lead to protect, Rovers knew they had a big 45 minutes ahead of them and the second half proved to be very much 'nip tuck' with little in the way of clear-cut goalmouth action.

Defenders from both teams made important interventions; Bobby Faulkner (who put in a very committed and hard-working display which will have impressed many amongst the big crowd) provided one during a breakaway attack whilst Sam Greenhouse did likewise for the visitors.

As the hour mark came and went, there was a sense that Rotherham - boasting a superior physical presence were starting to get on top and dictate things a bit which was therefore tipping momentum in their favour. Rovers responded to this by introducing defensive-midfielder Will Flint from the substitutes bench in place of Alex Fletcher. The Millers also made a change as Hamish Douglas was replaced by Zack Bond.

It was just after these changes that Rovers created their clearest opening since going ahead as Tavonga Kuleya was picked out by Goodman and, with a clear sight of goal, he was superbly thwarted by Rotherham 'keeper Alfie Burnett who read the danger and was quick off his line to make a crucial save.

Kuleya was soon replaced by towering defender Charlie Petch as Rovers sought to protect what they had with less than a quarter of the game remaining.

The visitors, wearing their grey away strip, were continuing to look a threat as the minutes ticked by and Mackenzie Warne (son of Rotherham boss Paul Warne who was watching on in the stands!) nearly found an equaliser with an effort he whistled narrowly wide from the edge of the box after Greenhouse's long-throw was only partially cleared away. The pressure continued and from a corner-kick only a few minutes later, Chadwick was required to pull off a save after a powerful header by Carroll.

It wasn't quite yet at the stage where the pressure was so intense Rovers needed respite but if they'd been able to get a second goal it would have paved the way for a much more comfortable finale and with eight minutes remaining, they were awarded with the perfect chance to do so when Goodman was judged to have been fouled in the box by the referee. It didn't look a penalty (if anything it seemed incredibly harsh) because Rotherham's defender certainly got a touch on the ball, but nor were there too many appeals against the decision by visiting players.

Goodman took responsibility with the spot-kick and despite hitting a low and hard effort to the 'keeper's right-hand side, Burnett guessed correctly and managed to palm the ball onto the post and away to safety - thus keeping his team in with a fighting chance as seven minutes of normal time remained.

When those minutes were up, a minimum of three more were awarded and with Rovers' players knowing they were right on the brink of a trip to West Bromwich Albion, the Hawthorns dream was snatched away as Rotherham dramatically got back on level terms.

The clock read precisely 92:28 (and I know because I had the stop-watch on!) when Durose's low drive crept past Chadwick and into the net; the Millers forward having been allowed by the Rovers defence to cut inside, stretch his legs and pull the trigger from the edge of the area to devastating effect.

It was a body-blow for Donny's tiring players who'd given so much effort but now needed to lift themselves both physically and mentally and win the game again.

Sadly, it proved to be too much because within five minutes of extra-time, Rotherham completed the turnaround altogether thanks to a fast-flowing breakaway where Rovers' loss of possession on the halfway line was their undoing.

Durose was instrumental in the goal as he broke away down the right flank amidst a frantic chase by Whiting who did well but couldn't stop an inevitable cross. Faulkner also 'bust a gut' to sprint back and take up a defensive position inside the area but Durose's delivery was perfect for McGuckin whose close-range header flew past Chadwick.

Rovers were now chasing a game where, football-wise, they'd been the better team.

They weren't quite done yet as a moment of huge pressure inside the visitors' penalty box saw the ball drop for Goodman who lost his footing at the crucial moment with the 'keeper grounded - otherwise it would have been a certain goal. He was still able to recycle it back to Cole whose wild effort flew over the upright much to Rotherham's relief!

Will Hollings then went close as Rovers finished the first period of extra-time very strongly but during the second 15 minutes, despite a few crosses which always carried a bit too much flight or were comfortable for Burnett, the hosts weren't able to muster up that gilt-edged, golden opportunity that teams crave in these scenarios.

Rotherham defended well to their immense credit - keeping their shape, being disciplined and running the clock down when it was needed, and ultimately they progressed to Round Three!

Ultimately, had Rovers been able to show some of those same 'game-management' characteristics in the closing stages of normal-time and been able to waste precious seconds at any opportunity, they'd probably be looking forward to a trip to the West Midlands now. Instead, players were sometimes a bit too eager to get play going again - certainly so after the penalty miss which was a galvanising moment for Rotherham. Taking a bit longer over throw-ins, or at set-plays, doing laces up, feigning injury and other subtle little things would easily have eaten into the 32 seconds that remained when the ball hit the net.

Plenty can be discussed about the specifics in exactly how the two goals were conceded and discussions can be had about how to deal with pressure-scenarios, but it was that tiny 'gamesmanship' which Rotherham did better that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Despite the result, however, the lads still deserve some credit.

It wasn't a vintage night or performance but amongst Rovers' players, Bobby Faulkner (my 'Man Of The Match' as I thought he put a really strong shift in), Corie Cole (who showed his technical quality), Jack Goodman (bar the penalty miss), Owen Scattergood (who was persistent and a nuisance yet again - just like 10 days ago, Jack Raper (who did well but tired towards the end) and Jak Whiting (who I'm enjoying watching more every week) will probably have all made favourable impressions amongst the healthy crowd that turned out to watch the game.

It was pleasing to see several players past and present in the stands including Branden Horton, Paul Green, Cameron John, Omar Bogle, John Buckley, Lirak Hasani, Liam Ravenhill and Ed Williams - and a good camaraderie amongst them all, plus also Ethan Bojang who was in Rovers' youth ranks last season prior to joining Peterborough United's U23s.

Manager Richie Wellens was nowhere to be seen, nor was Liam Hoden who as Editor of the Doncaster Free Press (and Doncaster Rovers reporter), you'd thought might have bothered to turn up, but at least he can get the information from this blog post if he needs to!

With a free weekend upcoming, the youth team's next outing is a visit to Grimsby Town in the EFL Youth Alliance on Saturday 27th November - a game which will be tough as the Mariners are top of the table, have some good players and are often good value to watch.

Good luck to Rotherham United in Round Three and here's hoping they enjoy the experience of performing at a big stadium where there will hopefully be another decent turn-out.

Team: Luke Chadwick, Alex Fletcher (Will Flint), Jak Whiting, Will Hollings, Bobby Faulkner, Dan Wilds (C), Owen Scattergood (Alex Wolny), Jack Raper (Tom Henson), Jack Goodman, Corie Cole, Tavonga Kuleya (Charlie Petch). Unused Subs: Jake Dram, Harry Wood, Tom Parkinson.