Football League Youth Alliance
Saturday 2nd November 2019
Doncaster Rovers responded positively to the disappointment of defeat in the FA Youth Cup in midweek by beating Lincoln City, 2-0, and returning to the top of the EFL Youth Alliance (North-East Division) table.
On a soaking wet and utterly miserable morning, weather-wise, at Cantley Park, Junior Smith continued his good recent form by bagging an early opener shortly before Nathan Dimou's set-piece header opened up a clear and commanding advantage.
In challenging conditions as the driving rain continued throughout the 90 minutes, the lads showed a decent enough intensity to maintain their two-goal cushion, thwart the Imps when they had to, and ultimately 'get the job done'.
Though there wasn't a lot in the way of goalmouth action - especially in the second half - truthfully, other than someone capitalising upon a defensive mistake or producing a 'worldy' strike, Lincoln didn't really look like they'd get back into the game.
The lads can no doubt collectively play better than they did at times today so there’s still plenty to work on over the coming weeks as the fixtures continue to come thick and fast.
The result doesn't altogether bury the disappointment at the FA Youth Cup defeat, but it does keep Rovers top of the table. Therefore, positives are to be had going into the next game which is away at Fleetwood Town in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup next Saturday.
Paul Stancliffe made two changes to his starting line-up with Max Jemson coming in for usual skipper Ben Blythe at centre-back, whilst Marius Conradi made way for Owan Derrett on the frontline.
The changes consequentially meant Lirak Hasani wore the skippers armband.
In the early exchanges, Rovers adapted extremely well to the challenging weather - looking bright, sharp and energetic as they played on the front foot and caused problems.
It wasn't very long at all until the pressure paid off with Smith opening the scoring with a tight-angled finish having demonstrated a good touch, strength and composure to weave his way into the box prior to unleashing a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
Lincoln then applied some pressure of their own in search of a quick equaliser and had a half-chance when their frontman got on the end of a low, left-wing cross ahead of Jemson but, with his back to goal, the attacker was unable to spin and get a meaningful shot away and the danger came to pass.
Rovers continued to probe more frequently than their counterparts and it was 2-0 by the quarter-hour mark with Dimou rising highest to power a header into the top corner following Will McGowan's inviting corner into the six-yard box.
At this stage in proceedings, the lads were in a commanding position, playing well and many folk on the sidelines probably thought they'd go on to bag a few more goals and record a victory of a much wider margin.
Despite the lads keeping up their intensity for a short period of time after the goals, things became untidy as the half progressed. Even though Rovers saw more of the ball, they didn't convert that into sustained spells of possession or create any major decisive/piercing passes (which was the case in earlier games in the season).
At the same time, nevertheless, Lincoln's threat was very sporadic.
During quick turnovers in play, the Imps looked dangerous, but they didn't create an awful lot else despite getting in some decent positions and it was still pretty comfortable for Rovers.
In honesty, from 20-25 minutes onwards, things were largely untidy, rushed on occasions - this being from both teams and it ultimately resulted in little in the way of goalmouth action. It was stop-start and the referee (sometimes quite generously - and in Rovers' favour it has to be said) awarded a higher than usual amount of free-kicks - all of which came to nothing!
Before the break, Elliott Walker curled a free-kick narrowly over on the half-hour mark, whilst Smith and Jack Watson had an effort apiece.
At the other end, Ben Bottomley made an important save using his feet during first half stoppage-time after a Rovers free-kick broke down, quite poorly, and the visitors were able to spring forward. In a separate (albeit similar) turnover in play, Hasani and Dimou had to track back quickly to prevent a breakaway goal.
Had the Imps reduced arrears just before half-time, it would have no doubt shifted momentum and the second period might have been more intense and less comfortable.
As it transpired, the second 45 minutes were a continuation of the latter part of the first half - a very 'mixed bag' with some good aspects for 20 minutes up to around the hour mark, some not so good aspects for the remainder, but incredibly little in the way of goalmouth action again.
Lewis Cunningham went close with a speculative attempt from out on the left flank when the visiting 'keeper's poor clearance fell for him, whilst Will McGowan's 25-yard free-kick just cleared the target.
Walker, McGowan and substitute Luca Nelson were all given yellow cards as the stop-start nature of proceedings carried on and there were lots of trivial fouls and free-kicks.
Two brief stoppages occurred when Walker and Watson needed treatment, whilst a few other seconds were eaten up by substitutions with Nelson, Marius Conradi, Charlie Bell and Josh Clemitson all introduced to the action.
Naturally, chasing the game, Lincoln had no option but to press forward more in the closing stages.
With five minutes to play, some poor defending at a set-piece resulted in an Imps player clipping the far-post, but that was the closest they came as they also couldn't convert their periods of possession into openings.
Overall - and on reflection, the weather conditions certainly didn't help and made things quite challenging - though both sides will probably feel they could have done more within the game.
If you draw on the positives, the lads will be happy to have kept a clean-sheet and to be back to winning ways.
From a not-so-positive viewpoint, the overall display could have been better and there's no doubt in my mind that tougher and more ruthless opponents might have posed problems. In truth, Lincoln didn't play well and probably lacked the height or physicality to cause a significant threat - hence why it was still a relatively comfortable win. Looking at things from another aspect, Rovers haven't done as much to seriously 'hurt' the opposition through sharp, incisive, creative, defence-splitting passes (basically moving the ball well), as they did earlier in the season.
On an individual player-by-player basis there's plenty for everyone to work on - both individually and collectively.
Ben Bottomley kept a clean-sheet and since the 'mistake' in conceding the first goal against Mansfield, he's commanded his area well - caught crosses, looked solid, saved shots and done well in that respect. Nevertheless, there were two or three goal-kicks today that could have been better.
At left-back, Lewis Cunningham recovered from something of a disappointing defensive display in midweek and looked okay today - not outstanding by any means but not terrible either. He seemed more positionally-aware, put a few balls into decent areas, and it's just a case of building on that, improving, learning and replicating it consistently.
On the opposite flank, Elliott Walker picked up another yellow card and produced a committed display, as usual, whilst causing quite a few problems in the early minutes down the right flank - yet he got quieter as the game went on.
In my view, neither full-back has supplemented attacking moves as effectively over recent weeks as they did in early-season league games and that's something which probably stems from the overall collective performance of the team as more balls seem to be going long from the back.
At centre-back, Nathan Dimou was the 'leader' at the back, scored a goal and looked generally okay alongside Max Jemson who, after a dodgy start with a few nervous moments, grew into things and led others. Jemson was always talking, encouraging and trying to have a positive impact. Obviously, it wasn't the toughest of tests in the world for any defensive partnership, but they did enough for this particular game to essentially do their job and keep a clean-sheet.
In midfield, Will McGowan was combative and getting stuck in more than I've seen in many games previously (which I didn't realise he had in his locker as much as he showed), Lirak Hasani did some good stuff - as did Liam Ravenhill in terms of pressing/squeezing and getting stuck in, but it was very 'hit and miss' overall.
Owan Derrett 'ratted about' up front in his first start for a while but without really having any chances come his way, Jack Watson showed determination, clever footwork and movement on the ball and posed a threat - mostly in the opening 45 minutes, but was 'clonked and clattered' a bit, whilst Junior Smith was again the bright light and is currently in a rich vein of form with half a dozen goals in the past four games.
None of the four substitutes affected things very much and they'll no doubt have other games, when they either start or come off the bench for a longer period, to shine and put in a big display - something which anyone on the periphery of the starting XI needs to do in order to force their way into things.
To finish on a positive, it's no doubt been a tough and challenging week - mentally and physically - and there's plenty of things for the lads to work on. That said, however, they 'rolled their sleeves up' (to a loose extent) and won today in horrible weather for which they deserve credit.
They're top of the table on merit (and nobody else is) and when they regain their groove, confidence and belief, and identify the crux of why they've recently lost their 'blueprint' in passing and movement - when this happens, some opposing team is in for an absolute hammering!
Team: Ben Bottomley, Elliott Walker, Nathan Dimou, Max Jemson, Lewis Cunningham (Josh Clemitson), Will McGowan, Lirak Hasani (C), Liam Ravenhill, Owan Derrett (Marius Conradi), Jack Watson (Charlie Bell), Junior Smith (Luca Nelson). Unused Sub: Kian Johnson.
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