Doncaster Rovers (U23s) 3-2 Walsall (U23s)

Doncaster Rovers (U23s) 3-2 Walsall (U23s)
Central League
Tuesday 10th December 2019

Doncaster Rovers survived a late fightback to pick up three points with a 3-2 victory over Walsall in the Central League.

On a wild, windy and wintry afternoon at Cantley Park, the hosts dominated the first 45 minutes and led at the break courtesy of Joe Wright's headed opener.

Further goals by Branden Horton and A.Trialist gave Rovers a commanding three-goal cushion, before two Walsall goals in the space of as many minutes in the dying stages ensured quite a nervous finale.

For a multitude of different reasons, Gary McSheffrey named a strong starting line-up - including a string of players who are in and around the first team such as Tom Anderson, Joe Wright and Niall Ennis. Shane Blaney skippered the team.

Walsall also named a line-up which included a few experienced individuals, whilst under-pressure manager Darrell Clarke was also present on the sidelines.

A strong, cross-field wind meant conditions were difficult for both sides, but Rovers wasted no time in settling down as they enjoyed large swathes of early possession.

Their first opening came when Tom Anderson picked out Elliott Walker with an intelligent cross-field pass out towards the right flank. The youngster advanced and then hit a teasing cross through the goalmouth which just evaded Max Watters.

A few minutes later, Watters was in the action again when his quick shot from the edge of the box, following Wright's pass, was comfortable enough for the visiting 'keeper.

By the quarter-hour mark, Rovers were on top; pressing well, squeezing, looking fluid, controlling the tempo and looking good in possession. Nevertheless, AJ Greaves was cautioned following a late, mistimed challenge on the halfway line.

The Saddlers had offered very little up to this point but went close to an opener when Anderson inadvertently sliced a right-wing cross goalwards - thus forcing Louis Jones to react quickly and turn the ball wide of the woodwork.

Back up at the other end, Blaney saw his curling free-kick palmed away as Rovers forced their opponents into their own defensive third once again.

Watters then went close to an opener near to the half-hour mark. Firstly, he showed good strength and footwork inside the area and, though his initial shot from an acute angle was blocked, he managed to get a second effort away with a cheeky chip that was only just plucked out the air by a back-peddling 'keeper.

Only moments later, the youngster drew another save with a quick turn-and-shot towards the bottom corner from 20 yards, which nearly found it's way past a wrong-footed 'keeper.

What Rovers really needed was a goal to show from their dominant display up to this point and it eventually came on 36 minutes with Wright rising highest inside the box to guide home Greaves' teasing set-piece ball.

Greaves was tenacious and determined as ever in the middle and nearly bagged himself prior to the interval when he planted a shot narrowly wide following a good lay-off from A.Trialist, who wasn't having a bad game either.

Two changes to Doncaster's frontline were made at the interval with Ennis replaced by Myron Gibbons, whilst Watters was substituted for Rieves Boocock.

Walsall seemed to 'up their game' after the re-start, whilst Rovers' intensity dipped a little, and the visitors forced Jones into action with a free-kick on 52 minutes.

Soon afterwards, Anderson was booked for dissent by referee Dane McCarrick after the official wrongly (and blatantly wrongly) awarded Walsall a free-kick out wide. Wright also didn't hold back in voicing his displeasure at the very poor decision and he was replaced by Cody Prior on the hour mark, which led to a change in shape with the substitute taking up a central midfield position, whilst Anderson and Blaney were left as a central-defensive pairing.

Rovers went close to doubling their lead when A.Trialist had a shot saved, but it wasn't long until a second goal did arrive - and it was courtesy of some excellent work by Prior.

The youngster was persistent and threatening in equal measure as he won possession in the middle and carried the ball forward. A pass was eventually threaded through towards Horton, who opened up his body up perfectly and slammed the ball beyond the 'keeper to make it 2-0.

Although Rovers were in a strong position, Walsall knew that a goal for them would instantly shift momentum - and only a good, back-peddling save by Jones to keep out a chipped attempt after 72 minutes, prevented the visitors from reducing arrears.

With under a quarter-of-an-hour left to play, the game looked all over as a contest when A.Trialist showed some fine work and movement to go on a great, weaving run - advancing into the box where he tucked a low drive into the net. It was a goal which was just reward for his efforts.

It seemed that if there were to be any further goals then it would be in Doncaster's favour and Boocock soon flashed a shot narrowly over the upright from a cutback, whilst strike-partner Gibbons went close as well in a separate move.

Strangely, however, Walsall rallied in the closing 10 minutes.

One powerful effort had to be watched carefully by Jones, before the visitors had a goal disallowed when their frontman got on the end of a left-wing cross and finished somewhat untidily, but he was quite harshly penalised for handball and then booked by the over-eager referee who seemed to just want to be noticed.

With three minutes remaining, Walsall got what seemed to be just a consolation goal after they broke forward on the counter-attack and stretched the Rovers backline. Although Blaney just about recovered and was able to get a challenge in to prevent one shot, the ball ricocheted towards another opponent who skipped his second attempted tackle and fired past Jones from 15 yards.

Incredibly, only a minute later, the visitors struck again to threaten what would have been an absolutely monumental comeback - this time as their frontman got on the end of a forward-pass and rounded Jones, before he slotted home from a tight angle.

All of a sudden there was a palpable sense of tension and nerves in the air; especially after last week's events against Grimsby, where Rovers relinquished a two-goal lead and ended up losing.

About five minutes were played in total, during which Blaney was booked for time-wasting after he kicked the ball away, and Greaves and A.Trialist held the ball up well in the corner. The visitors struggled to get the ball past the halfway line as precious seconds ebbed away and the final whistle was met with a welcome sigh of relief.

Overall, it had been a dominant performance with quite a few positives, but the unexpected, bizarre and dramatic finale is a definite cause for concern.

The inclusion of some first team players definitely ensured a 'mature' performance and aided the development of those around them. Given the horrible, wild wind and challenging elements, the lads definitely made the correct choice to try and pass through Walsall - thus keeping the ball on the deck as opposed to going long and potentially losing possession.

It was also the last development game this year as next week's Central League Cup tie with Rochdale has been postponed and re-arranged for early January.

On a player-by-player basis, these are my reflections:

Louis Jones: Did well, communicated with his defence and was vocal throughout proceedings. He saved some teasing efforts and looked solid enough. Possibly unsighted for the first goal which meant he was unable to keep it out.

Elliott Walker: Advanced down the right flank with menace - much more so than in a lot of other recent games. Showed a good touch, control, and played a string of decent balls into dangerous areas.

Joe Wright: Scored, led things at the back, carried a threat at set-plays and enjoyed a solid afternoon. Played for an hour and was very, very comfortable.

Tom Anderson: Looked solid and his experience helped those around him. Played some fine balls out of defence - including one which nearly led to an opening goal.

Shane Blaney: Steady enough wearing the captain's armband. Advanced forward a few times to supplement different attacks. Got turned a bit too easily in one instance on the counter-attack when he perhaps needed to be closer to his marker to prevent the turn. That said, his improvement over the last few months, coupled with his footballing intelligence, is evident. If he can supplement this with becoming physically stronger, then he'll achieve plenty.

Branden Horton: Took a while to get into the game but carried a threat down the left channel, overlapped well, and was very lively in the second period. Took his goal superbly, in a brilliant bit of link-up play with Cody Prior, and is improving in every game.

Will McGowan: The undisputed playmaker who lives for a 'one-two'. His passing opened up the visitors on a few occasions and he was heavily involved in many passages of play. Had a decent game, though there's still areas to improve upon. Will only get better and better by playing alongside experienced team-mates in games such as this one.

AJ Greaves: Tenacious, combative and determined. Thought he might struggle after his early booking (and with the red card at Aston Villa in mind), but it was completely the opposite as he had  a very good, solid game. Setting high standards which he now needs to maintain, progressing well and setting the benchmark for others who want his starting place to aspire to.

Trialist: Same lad who featured against Grimsby last week. Played on the left of a front three. Looked lively, absolutely worked his socks off and took his goal well. Positional sense was good (on the whole). Very worthy of another look.

Max Watters: Got some shots away, troubled the Walsall defence, and had an okay enough showing. Maybe would have had a goal if he'd gambled on Elliott Walker's early ball through the box.

Niall Ennis: Enjoyed a couple of runs and posed problems for the visitors' defence - particularly with his movement. Drifted in and out of things a bit, but most importantly came through the 45 minutes unscathed.

Cody Prior: An impressive showing from the substitutes bench with some great work for the second goal. Did well last week (versus Grimsby) and seems to be thriving with confidence at present. Loan spell at Sheffield FC appears to be doing him good, too.

Rieves Boocock: A quiet afternoon by his usual standards. Got a shot away which went over, linked up with team-mates but didn't see a huge amount of the ball.

Myron Gibbons: Had one shot smothered and flashed another effort over the upright. Worked hard, but with little reward as most of the attacking play in the second half came down the left flank.

Team: Louis Jones, Elliott Walker, Joe Wright (Cody Prior), Tom Anderson, Shane Blaney (C), Branden Horton, Will McGowan, AJ Greaves, Trialist, Max Watters (Rieves Boocock), Niall Ennis (Myron Gibbons). Unused Sub: Ben Blythe.