Doncaster Rovers (U23s) 6-2 Huddersfield Town (U23s)

Doncaster Rovers (U23s) 6-2 Huddersfield Town (U23s)
Central League Cup
Tuesday 5th November 2019

Doncaster Rovers ultimately eased to a big victory over Huddersfield Town to make it two wins from two games in the Central League Cup.

It was an entertaining contest in the winter weather at Cantley Park which had excitement from the outset as Rakish Bingham and then Max Watters struck inside the opening two minutes to put the hosts in a commanding position.

The Terriers reduced arrears prior to the half-time interval, however, Rovers responded in emphatic style with Shane Blaney, Will Longbottom and Rieves Boocock adding their names to the score-sheet (along with an own goal), before Dean Whitehead's visitors grabbed a late consolation.

Even though it wasn't a 'complete' overall team performance by any means, there were obviously many positives to take away.

Along with the goals which were well spread out, AJ Greaves and Liam Ravenhill both produced strong and committed individual displays in the middle of the park, Boocock was a handful when he came on and Branden Horton (operating at centre-back) made his first appearance in the red and white hoops in quite a while.

A special mention also needs to go to the referee who provided entertainment (of sorts) by being absolutely appalling and somehow he brandished SEVEN yellow cards.

Granted, there were one or two fully-committed challenges (to which a quiet word in the ear would have sufficed), but it definitely wasn't an overly-physical contest and most folk on the sidelines were totally perplexed by his utterly awful way of controlling things.

There were a plethora of mistakes and numerous other instances of downright dreadful officiating - it was laughable and easily the worst display of officiating that I've seen in a long time!

On a day famous for fireworks, celebrations and gunpowder, it was quite apt that Gary McSheffrey's players made an explosive start as they took the lead within a minute of the game getting under way.

Some high pressing forced Huddersfield's backline into cheaply conceding possession and a grateful Greaves picked up the ball in the centre, brought it forward a few yards and threaded a piercing low pass through for Bingham. The new signing burst onto it, opened up his body well and cutely fired a low shot across the 'keeper, into the bottom corner, to give the hosts the lead.

Things then got even better less than 60 seconds later as Alex Kiwomya, who looked bright, sharp and was full of running early on, got down the inside-left channel and floated a great ball into the box where Watters smashed the ball home, via a deflection off a defender, to double Rovers' advantage.

Though it was an absolutely dream start, the two-goal cushion had to be protected by the last line of defence only a few moments later, when Kian Johnson was quick off his line to smother a low shot in Huddersfield's first foray forward.

In the early exchanges, despite it being drizzly and damp weather, there was a real zest, energy and liveliness about things with Greaves putting his body on the line to make some key interceptions and tackles, and Kiwomya looking sharp in a wider area.

On the quarter-hour mark, the referee gave the first indication in regards to the type of official that he was when Longbottom was booked - despite a clean challenge where he won the ball. The youngster protested; nothing overly wrong in doing so, but seemingly the referee didn't like his authority being called into question and he brandished a card.

As each minute passed, Huddersfield gradually got a better foot-hold in the game and they started to see more of the ball in decent areas whilst Doncaster, on a couple of occasions, gave the ball away too easily.

That said, the next opening - midway through the half - came Rovers' way.

Following a foul about 25 yards out, Blaney lined up the resulting free-kick and curled an exquisite left-foot shot over the wall which ricocheted off the 'keepers left-hand post and fell for an unmarked Kiwomya, six yards out, who somehow couldn't tap it into an empty net with the goal at his mercy.

It really should have been 3-0 and, had he scored, the Terriers' hopes of launching any comeback would have died on the spot.

Instead, Rovers' level of performance had dipped slightly compared to the first quarter-of-an-hour or so, and Huddersfield continued to probe, look good, and cause few problems and only a great challenge by Ravenhill on the edge of his own box prevented a shot on goal, just shy of the half-hour mark.

Just a matter of seconds later, Kiwomya went close to a much-needed 'confidence boosting' goal when he demonstrated some decent footwork, tricked and teased a defender, and saw a powerful attempt on target palmed away by the visiting 'keeper at the expense of a corner which ultimately came to nothing.

The game was being played at pace and Huddersfield halved their deficit on 32 minutes when another good defensive challenge by Ravenhill - this time actually inside his own area, fell fortuitously for an attacker who steered a shot into the corner.

By this stage, Rovers needed something of a 'kick up the backside' as they had undoubted quality on the pitch but were toiling and lacking something of an end product.

Meanwhile, the referee appeared to be 'protecting' the visiting players - penalising Donny for a string of minor things when most referees wouldn't have done so, then lecturing the players in the aftermath. His decision-making was also 'erratic' too, to say the least; getting at least one corner and two throw-ins completely wrong around this period of the game, whilst Watters also got a somewhat harsh yellow card.

On 36 minutes, Horton produced a moment of undoubted quality - cutting the Terriers' defence wide apart with a piercing through ball towards Kiwomya, who saw a shot deflected out for a corner which again came to nothing.

Ravenhill produced a couple more superb tackles to showcase his potential whilst Greaves played a good ball through to Bingham who saw a shot blocked a few minutes before the half-time interval.

By this stage in proceedings, the whistle-happy referee was the talk of the sidelines and he gave Blaney, Rovers' captain, a glaring look of disgust and disapproval after the Irish centre-back dared to question why he hadn't blown for a foul on Ravenhill. It was one of those looks which, inadvertently, revealed the referee was one of those officials who you can't speak to or communicate with (i.e. the worst types out there).

Despite players from both sides being ready to start, there was actually a delay to the start of the second half - again, thanks to the referee, who was back in the changing room and wanted to make sure he had his full 15 minutes.

In the meantime, Rovers made a change with Boocock replacing Bingham in attack.

Huddersfield enjoyed the first opening of the second half on 49 minutes when their frontman lashed a shot narrowly over the upright, but it wasn't long until most of the action was down at the opposite end of the field.

Boocock, lively from the minute he was introduced, intercepted a ridiculous attempted pass on the edge of the area and saw a curling strike that was destined for the top corner tipped over by a full-stretch diving 'keeper.

Then, Watters had a shot blocked by the custodian at close-range a couple of minutes later, before Horton and then Longbottom let fly with speculative attempts from distance - neither of which were on target.

By now, Rovers were piling on the pressure again and it seemed that another goal was inevitable. It was just a case of when and who it would be that would restore the two-goal lead and the answer to that question was, surprisingly, Blaney.

Unlucky earlier in the game with a set-piece, the Irishman eyed up another chance when the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and his subsequent left-foot strike took a bounce which eluded the 'keeper and ended up in the net.

That goal signalled the floodgates were open and Rovers began to play some devastating attacking football - especially down the right flank and a fluid move featuring a brilliant one-two with Boocock and Watters less than a minute later culminated with Longbottom tapping home from a few yards, after Watters' near-post effort was only parried away.

More refereeing ineptitude then occurred on the hour mark as Greaves was cautioned for a challenge - with the 'man in the middle' then also flashing a yellow card in the direction of Blaney as well. Did the captain say something? Who knows, but you got the impression the referee was desperate to book him all game long.

However, that paled into insignificance compared to the referee's next involvement in play as he over-ruled the linesman (who had his flag up for offside) to allow a move to continue, which resulted in Watters flashing a ball through the six-yard box - though nobody was positioned well enough to turn it goalwards.

Had that passage of play resulted in a goal, Huddersfield's players - by now themselves fed up with the idiocy of the officials, would probably have kicked off big style.

The Terriers were beaten by this stage; the result a formality - but the scoreline got even better for the lads five minutes later in bizarre fashion when Kiwomya's high near-post cross ricocheted off Longbottom's ankle at speed and hit the standing leg of a nearby defender, before it trickled into the net.

It was Longbottom's last involvement as he and Watters were replaced by Myron Gibbons and second-year youth teamer Will McGowan.

Since the re-start Rovers had blitzed, bombarded and dominated their despairing opponents and if anyone deserved a goal it was Boocock, who'd posed a nuisance and significant threat since his introduction at the break.

On 70 minutes, he finally got the goal his display merited when he drifted into a great position on the edge of the six-yard box to meet Elliott Walker's fine cross from open play, and directed a powerful and brave header into the net.

With the score now at 6-1, two more substitutions occurred - quite sensibly, given the utterly unpredictable referee with Blaney and Greaves being replaced by Nathan Dimou and Lirak Hasani, respectively.

McGowan then had a couple of instances in the spotlight with a shot which narrowly went wide of the target, before he was booked for a foul (incidentally, his first offence) near the halfway line.

In the final quarter-hour, despite a swerving drive by Hasani which had to be beaten away by the visiting 'keeper, Huddersfield got back on top, saw more of the ball, as the Rovers display again dipped somewhat.

They got a consolation when a striker swooped home to convert, but it was far too little, far too late - even if the scorer did immediately scoop the ball up and rush back to the centre circle wanting to re-start play.

Overall, it was a deserved win for the lads though the complete, ninety-minute performance could have been better - especially during points in the first half, but that said, there were still many positives to emerge.

Going through the players one-by-one, Will Longbottom worked hard, got a goal which he's worked hard for all season and there's no doubt he'll try and claim the 'Own Goal' as well - though you'd have to get some dubious folk on the dubious goals committee to credit it to him! He linked up well with the frontline, tracked back at times and hopefully he can just use this game as a massive confidence boost to push forwards from.

Rakish Bingham did okay in his 45-minute appearance - taking his goal well, and, as stated, Rieves Boocock was sublime when he came on - getting in good positions, good areas, being brave and it's good to see him back in a DRFC shirt for the first time in a while.

Max Watters was involved in some good link-up play at times - notably for the fourth goal, using his pace and skill to good effect and it's another positive performance after his very good showing in the 3-2 defeat at Rotherham United, three weeks ago.

Alex Kiwomya started well - looking bright, hungry, fresh, full of energy, chasing things - even getting 'stuck in' at times in the early exchanges. He got an assist for the fifth goal (the own goal) but tailed off a bit as the game progressed and ultimately sat out the final few minutes after a challenge by one of their defenders. He probably needs a goal for his own morale, which will come, but also needs to produce a fully-effective display over the duration of a full game at some point to properly force his way nearer to the first team reckoning.

In midfield, AJ Greaves and Liam Ravenhill were both very good. AJ, in particular, was committed, full of energy and link-up play whilst Ravenhill produced four memorable and very good tackles, tracked back when he had to and stopped the opposition in their tracks. For me, it was his best, most eye-catching display so far this season, but there's still plenty for him to work on and the next step now is probably to be as effective as he was today on a consistent, week-by-week basis.

Defensively, Danny Amos at left-back had a really quiet game whilst Elliott Walker, at right-back, did well and offered such a brilliant attacking threat on the overlap at times in the second half that it bamboozled Huddersfield completely. His ball for the assist was quality and hopefully he can replicate the second half performance over the various games in the weeks ahead.

At centre-back, Branden Horton slotted in well and listened to the advice of Shane Blaney alongside him, covered well, distributed a ridiculously brilliant through pass not long before half-time and it's good to see him back in DRFC colours.

Blaney himself led well - even though he got called out from the bench for being 'too nice' on one occasion during the first half-hour or so. His free-kick that hit the post was very good and apart from one occasion where he got out-muscled a bit too easily on the near touchline, it was a decent enough individual display. If he can keep working on physically becoming stronger, becoming a dominant force and get more experience against stronger opponents, then he's got a very good chance of doing well. In the 'here and now' there's still plenty to work on but his potential is very promising.

Goalkeeper Kian Johnson didn't have much to do between the sticks in all honesty. When he did, however, he saved the shots and there was nothing he could really have done to prevent the two goals. Again, like at Rotherham, he was talking to the defence - not scared of being vocal and it was a good day, albeit not a busy one, carrying out his duties.

From the substitutes, Myron Gibbons showed some decent touches, a bit of speed, but probably needed to be involved in the game from an earlier point to have a major impact and cause Huddersfield more problems.

Of the others, Will McGowan competed well - and his yellow card was ridiculous from the referee, Lirak Hasani could have scored and, given news of his contract extension, certainly has the time to become a big figure in the team, whilst Nathan Dimou had a quiet spell from when he came on - by which point the result was a foregone conclusion.

Team: Kian Johnson, Elliott Walker, Branden Horton, Shane Blaney (Nathan Dimou), Danny Amos, AJ Greaves (Lirak Hasani), Liam Ravenhill, Will Longbottom (Will McGowan), Max Watters (Myron Gibbons), Rakish Bingham (Rieves Boocock), Alex Kiwomya.