EFL Youth Alliance
Saturday 4th December 2021
Despite defeat this was a spirited showing with plenty of grit and endeavour by a young Doncaster Rovers side, in absolutely atrocious weather conditions.
In freezing cold swirling winds and driving torrential rain which made the game difficult to even watch (let alone play in), Rovers were a shade unfortunate not to take anything because the lads' efforts merited a good result.
Against a decent Lincoln team who are near the top of the table and themselves possess some good players, Doncaster led at half-time courtesy of top scorer Jack Goodman's close-range toe-poke finish - his eighth goal of the campaign to date, before the visitors fought back and picked up the points courtesy of a 'worldie' strike on 70 minutes which is likely to be a 'Goal of the Month' contender.
Rovers, led by Tony Cook, could have snatched a point in the latter stages though as substitute Harry Wood saw his goalbound drive from a cut-back superbly blocked by a Lincoln defender.
It was a very young line-up that took to the field wearing DRFC shirts. No second-year scholars were involved as many of them were on the bench for the first team's FA Cup game with Mansfield Town later in the afternoon, but first-year professional Ben Bottomley featured between the sticks for his first bit of game-time since his loan at Frickley Athletic earlier in the season.
Surprisingly, it was Rovers who started the better and they fashioned up a couple of early chances; one of which saw the lively Goodman have an effort deflected over.
As the quarter-hour mark approached and went, Lincoln began to dominate in the midfield area and have plenty of possession. Their ideas and philosophies, work-rate, pattern play and fluid movement was clear to see, but when they got the ball into the final third, all of their early chances went wide of the target.
Jak Whiting, wearing the captain's armband, was a big vocal presence and his character-traits of organising things at the back and encouraging others (seen various times) during this period when Rovers were mainly on the back foot was testament to what he offers.
Somewhat against the run of play, the lads broke the deadlock on 25 minutes.
The energetic Alex Fletcher burst down the right flank and delivered a cross into the box which ricocheted off a defender and straight into Goodman's path who was able to stab a foot at the ball and knock it past the 'keeper at close-range to put Rovers 1-0 up.
Fletcher soon had a penalty appeal turned down as Donny pressed for a second, whilst talisman Goodman would have been in the clear again, just a few moments later, had the referee not brought play back for an earlier incident (despite their being a clear advantage).
Nevertheless, Rovers had to show their resilience at the back for the remainder of the first half.
Charlie Petch made a crucial block to prevent an equaliser in one incident; Bottomley showed excellent commanding of his six-yard box to alleviate the danger amidst more pressure and then just before the half-time whistle, the big 'keeper pulled off a spectacular full-stretch save from a long-range effort.
Faris Khan, involved in bits and pieces at the other end, had a half-chance to make it 2-0 prior to the interval but the ball ricocheted off him at speed when he'd taken up a good and unmarked position on the edge of the six-yard box.
The wind (which was against Rovers during the first 45 minutes) had a big impact on the game and during the course of the second period weather conditions substantially worsened as winds grew stronger whilst torrential rain, hail stones (at one point) and bitingly cold sub-zero temperatures made it extremely difficult to even watch from the sidelines.
Lincoln got back on level terms just after half-time (and shortly before the heavens truly opened). An initial free-kick from 30 yards or so out was poor and hit the defensive wall but it fell kindly into the path of an attacker who swivelled and unleashed a low shot into the bottom corner.
There wasn't too much in the way of goalmouth action for quite a few minutes after this point with the ball mostly being seen in and around the midfield area. Rovers introduced several players from the bench at different points - namely Ethan Harrison (who went upfront), Justin Bennett (a midfielder), Harry Wood (an attacker), Will Green (a full-back) and Jack Raper (a technical ball-playing midfielder).
All the new faces, along with those already on the pitch, acquitted themselves extremely well to both the task of winning the game and the worsening weather conditions - and it's clear to see that a number of them possess plenty of ability and can offer a lot to the team.
However, they were undone on this occasion (in terms of a result) thanks to a 'worldie' strike on 70 minutes as a Lincoln striker collected possession 25 yards out at an angle, cut inside, looked up and unleashed a delicious curling attempt past Bottomley and into the net - it was the sort of finish you could only applaud and surely an LFE 'Goal of the Month' contender!
Whilst the set-back was disappointing, Rovers' response was excellent as they seized the initiative and did their best to force an equaliser which didn't come.
On occasions the quality up top didn't quite match the application or desire, there were bits and pieces of 'bad luck' at times as well - none more so than when an unmarked Wood got on the end of a cut-back and saw his goalbound drive incredibly blocked by a Lincoln defender when it seemed the net was destined to be hit.
In the end it wasn't to be as the Imps returned home with all three points, but it was still a positive enough showing by this young Rovers team. They didn't crumble by any means, they gave it a really good go against a close to full strength Lincoln team who are challenging for the EFL Youth Alliance (North-East Division) title and there were many pleasing things on show.
Special mentions for Will Flint who was really good in two or three positions that he took up over the course of the game, Jak Whiting on his maturity and excellent and encouraging leadership which was just a pleasure to watch, and Ben Bottomley on doing reasonably well in his first game in a while.
Rovers' last game in the Youth Alliance before some big bloke in a red costume scoffs a load of mince pies is on Saturday 18th December when they're away at Mansfield Town.
Team: Ben Bottomley, Alex Fletcher, Jak Whiting, Will Flint, Charlie Petch, Josh Lindley, Owen Scattergood, Trialist, Max Adamson, Faris Khan, Jack Goodman. Subs Used: Ethan Harrison, Justin Bennett, Harry Wood, Will Green, Jack Raper.
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