Bradford City (U18s) 0-3 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Bradford City (U18s) 0-3 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)
Football League Youth Alliance
Saturday 23rd November 2019

Doncaster Rovers’ youth team maintained top spot in the Football League Youth Alliance as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at Bradford City.

In wet West Yorkshire weather, the lads displayed tremendous character and applied themselves brilliantly to deliver their best collective performance in weeks.

Junior Smith continued his eye-catching recent form by grabbing an opener in the early exchnges, before Jack Watson netted the pick of the goals with a nonchalant close-range flick on the half-hour mark.

Substitute Marius Conradi then struck within seconds of his introduction, to extinguish any hopes of a home comeback.

Rovers were dominant in all areas; teasing, tormenting and playing their frustrated counterparts off the park at times and could have won by a wider margin as they created more chances late on but were unable to convert them.

For the watching Paul Stancliffe and Gary McSheffrey on the sidelines, it was a morning filled with positives - not just due to what the lads did when they were in possession, but also because of their work-rate and application when they were without the ball.

The organisation, shape, structure and discipline was spot on, whilst the midfield trio of Charlie Bell, Lirak Hasani and Liam Ravenhill were superb driving forces and pivotal to this victory.

Without doubt, the task which the lads now have is to replicate this display in every game, keep up the good traits, maintain these high standards and prevent any complacency or carelessness from slipping back into performances.

Going into this contest, there were many lingering pre-match questions and, whatever happened on the pitch, it was going to reveal answers.

Would the lads be able to raise their game against opposition who beat them quite comfortably, earlier in the season? Would they be able to produce a team display better than other ones which they’ve delivered in recent weeks? Would they have the mental strength to overcome yet more rainy, cold and downright horrid weather and play well? Would they be able to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in, if it became a battle, and stamp their blueprint on proceedings?

Also, for the lads who've produced 'hit and miss' individual displays in recent weeks, would they be able to effect this game in a really positive way?

Two changes were made to the side which drew 2-2 at Chesterfield last week with Bell replacing Will McGowan in midfield and right-back Elliott Walker returning in place of Josh Clemitson, having served a one-match ban for picking up yellow cards too often.

McGowan’s absence also posed another question: how would the lads cope without their influential passing midfielder?

All of the questions were met with a resounding, positive and emphatic YES!

Only five minutes had been played when Rovers took the lead in bizarre fashion as a Bradford player, inexcusably, passed the ball straight to Owan Derrett who was lurking dangerously on the edge of the hosts' area. He immediately played it goalwards towards Smith and the second-year opened his body up brilliantly and subsequently slid a shot beyond the 'keeper and into the bottom-left corner.

It was the perfect start for the lads and they were 'in the wars' over the next few minutes as Bell, typically combative and full of energy, suffered a bloody nose. Watson also needed treatment in the centre circle as it was already quite a physical contest.

Rovers were moving the ball around well - creating space, finding it with through balls and running Bradford ragged (to an extent) with Hasani, in particular, standing out.

It was energetic and positive and two openings in quick succession were created; firstly as Derrett had the ball inside the box but couldn't get a shot away quickly enough and then, more dangerously, as Watson showed great strength to work his way inside before playing a teasing ball along the six-yard line though nobody was there to connect.

Smith then drew a good covering challenge in another foray forward, whilst Bell had a shot blocked too.

The Bantams were on the back-foot for the large periods and when they did have the ball, sometimes instigated their own problems by constantly trying to play out from the back.

However, they are a good passing side and they demonstrated this when Ben Bottomley was tested for the first time; standing firm to save a 20-yard drive which was straight at him following a good initial pass from the right-winger between Lewis Cunningham and Ben Blythe opened up the visitors' backline.

Rovers remained on top though and it was soon 2-0 thanks to a moment of sublime skill by Watson.

Cunningham's free-kick from the wide-right was cleared out to Walker on the same flank, and the right-back floated a sumptuous cross into that uncertain zone between defence and 'keeper. Watson, who'd timed his run perfectly, flicked the ball on the volley using his heel and it looped up over the 'keeper and nestled beautifully in the net.

Whether he meant it or not is open to debate but it was a 'sublime' finish in any case.

By this point, trailing 2-0 and being out-moved, out-thought and out-classed, Bradford were evidently becoming frustrated and they were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when a blatant elbow on Ravenhill went unnoticed by both the referee and nearby linesman.

In fairness, the officials' general decision-making wasn't the best throughout the game - something which benefited both sides at different points.

Smith then saw an effort deflected wide as Doncaster threatened to bag a third goal, though it was the hosts who had the last opportunity of the first period with a free-kick which was routinely saved by Bottomley.

All Rovers needed to do in the second half was replicate their display from the opening 45 minutes and that's pretty much what they did.

Walker, Ravenhill and Smith linked up in a fine, free-flowing move which saw the latter of the trio draw a solid save from Bradford's 'keeper on 49 minutes, whilst Blythe went close with a set-piece header from a Walker delivery, just moments later.

It was evident by now that the third goal, whichever way it went, was going to have a big impact on the outcome.

A goal for Bradford would have issued them with a lifeline; a chance to seize the initiative, snatch the momentum and get back into things and on 55 minutes they came within a whisker of scoring as one of their frontmen twisted, turned and flashed a right-footed shot across the goalmouth but nobody was there to tap it home and it eventually drifted wide.

It was quite a significant let off and Donny soon took complete advantage of it by striking again to, essentially, put the result beyond any doubt.

Just three minutes after Cunningham curled a left-foot drive narrowly wide, Conradi came off the bench and was in the right place at the right time to latch onto Hasani's through ball and slot it past the 'keeper to make it 3-0.

The final half-hour or so passed without too much incident as Rovers made a plethora of changes to ensure those on the bench got game-time.

The lads continued to see plenty of the ball and would have scored again when more good pressing resulted in them winning the ball on edge of the hosts' box. It was quickly worked into the area where Conradi (in a great position to score) played a pass towards Derrett which just lacked accuracy, otherwise it would have been an easy finish.

Ravenhill also curled a drive just wide of the target whilst Smith had a penalty appeal, oddly waved away, despite a clear foul in the area. Luca Nelson also pressed and probed in his cameo appearance as Bradford found themselves under relentless pressure.

At the opposite end, the closest the hosts' went to a consolation was with a quarter-of-an-hour to go when a set-piece was straight at Bottomley.

Ultimately, there were to be no further goals but standards remained high from every Donny player through five minutes of injury-time and all the way up to the final whistle. It had been an exceptionally good performance with each of the pre-match questions answered in the best possible, most positive manner.

Individually, each of the lads did well - some more than others but every player stepped up and played a part in this success.

Ben Bottomley, whilst not having the busiest of games, just did what he had to do by saving three shots. It was a solid enough display, a well-deserved clean-sheet and one which will improve his end of season statistics.

At left-back, Lewis Cunningham delivered a much better performance than last week. He took time to almost relax into things, but once he did, he looked composed and it didn't seem as though he'd get caught out in any way. He got forward more, had a shot too (which is rare) and seemingly grew with confidence. Work is, however, still needed on that left-sided understanding with Junior Smith; things such as when Junior should make a run and whether it's going to be a short, long or floated ball, into feet or over the top, etc.

Nathan Dimou and Ben Blythe were fine and they're clearly a good defensive pairing with a decent understanding. Dimou appeared cool under pressure and didn't do anything wrong apart from one occasion just before half-time when he cheaply gave the ball away (despite having options available) and it could have led to a quick counter-attack. However, he was immediately back 'in position' to stop any overload - thus meaning the defensive shape couldn't be pierced and what looked initially to be a potentially threatening situation just petered out to nothing. It was a good recovery after a mistake. Blythe, alongside him, had his usual 'solid' game with a bit less of the work to do.

At right-back, Elliott Walker got forward well, got an assist and looked assured in the position. He constantly caused problems in an attacking-sense by finding space to creep into, thus stretching the defence, and was involved in some good moves.

In midfield, Lirak Hasani had one of the best games which I've seen in a while. His strength meant that Bradford's players could barely knock him off the ball, and his passing and involvement in many moves was excellent. He was at the heart of most things.

Liam Ravenhill applied himself extremely well, got whacked in the 'elbow' incident but didn't wimp out of anything. He got stuck in - especially late on when he made a full-blooded, committed tackle and cleanly won the ball and played a key part.

Charlie Bell, likewise, was just as combative - providing energy and was like an angry Jack Russell; nipping at the ankles, making tackles and stifling things. His positional sense was usually decent and he afforded the opposition nothing. It was a good performance - even though he was lucky to avoid a yellow card until past the hour mark. With Will McGowan absent, he needed to step and deliver such a display to catch the eye and did just that.

In attack, Junior Smith scored again and posed problems and it was a continuation of quite a few decent individual performances in recent weeks. Jack Watson delivered a strong performance and 'bullied' the defence a bit with his movement and technique - the best example being when he cut in across the byline and flashed a ball across the box. It was his best game in a few weeks and the goal (sublime, fortuitous - decide for yourself) should help his confidence.

Finally, Owan Derrett got an assist and maybe on a different day would have scored. He's definitely added something to the frontline in recent games, having waited for an opportunity for much of the season up to now, and probably the next task for him is to deliver a big individual display, score a goal and announce his arrival in that sense.

Of the substitutes, Marius Conradi scored one, should have got another, but it's another decent display as he made an impression last week when he was used in a similar way. Luca Nelson was full of energy - running, chasing things, etc, and was involved in the physical aspects of the game straight away and it didn't phase him whatsoever. Josh Clemitson, coming on at right-back, and Max Jemson (at centre-back) did okay, though they weren't really on the pitch for long enough to make a major impression.

Going back to what I said earlier, this victory - and more the performance, answered every one of the pre-match questions in emphatic style. The lads had to step up against good opponents; they did just that and it was the best collective display in weeks.

A benchmark, therefore, has been quite clearly set.

Certain standards and levels must be maintained, if not improved upon, in the weeks ahead. This type of performance has to become the minimum requirement every week, because the lads have proved they're capable of delivering it.

If they can replicate it over and over again, then there's going to be more days which are rich with positives and encouraging for the future.

Team: Ben Bottomley, Elliott Walker (Josh Clemitson), Ben Blythe (C), Nathan Dimou (Max Jemson), Lewis Cunningham, Lirak Hasani (Luca Nelson), Charlie Bell, Liam Ravenhill, Owan Derrett, Jack Watson (Marius Conradi), Junior Smith. Unused Sub: Kian Johnson.