Friendly
Tuesday 10th March 2020
This was a hard-earned win for a Doncaster Rovers team made up of first-year youth team players and many Under 16s/15s in tonight's friendly on the Keepmoat Stadium's 4G pitch.
It was the second time that the lads have locked horns with Leicester's Thai International Academy side in recent weeks and they went into it seeking revenge as they lost in the previous encounter towards the end of January.
On that occasion, Leicester played some nice, neat and attractive football and proved to be quite decent, effective and testing opponents, and that was no doubt a key reason why another game was re-arranged as the young lads continue their development.
Tonight's game consisted of four 'stages' (if you like); Rovers were on top in the first 20-25 minutes, then things were quite even up to half-time. Leicester then enjoyed their best spell of both pressure and possession over a 20-minute period after the interval before things were relatively even again up to the final whistle.
Rovers were bright and adventurous early on and made the best possible start with Owan Derrett netting the opener with a powerful long-range strike which was, somewhat unfortunately, fumbled over the line by 'keeper (in similar fashion to Dida's mistake against Leeds United in the Champions League several years ago). It should have been saved, it wasn't - that's football!
Things then got better as Luca Nelson soon got on the end of a set-piece and nonchalantly guided a header over the 'keeper, despite having his back to goal, to make it 2-0. It was a good goal and capped off a good start to the game from the youngster who was full of energy and running as usual.
Nelson went close again and had a strike ruled out for offside whilst Charlie Bell also went close before the Thai Academy reduced arrears just before half-time when they scrambled home a rebound after a free-kick from distance had ricocheted back off the woodwork into a packed six-yard box.
The visitors then began to get on top in the early stages after the re-start which coincided with Rovers having replaced a few of the more experienced youth team players with both Under 16s and Under 15s (and thus allowing the substitutes to 'step up' and test themselves in a tougher environment against older lads).
Leicester's eventual equaliser was a result of both some good skill and a goalkeeping error. A positive, passing move saw them knock the ball around before an excellent 'dummy' from a player in the centre allowed a team-mate to receive it high up on the right flank. The subsequent cut-back towards the edge of the area resulted in a low shot which the 'keeper wasn't quite able to hold and a player in a blue shirt was their to pounce with the follow-up and make it 2-2.
The visitors showed a surprisingly combative side (proven by one or two strong challenges at different stages) to complement their undoubted skill and ability on the ball, but it was Rovers who earned the victory late on when Tavonga Kuleya got into the box and picked his spot superbly with a low, well-placed effort, having received a pass from a team-mate.
Unfortunately, I'm not certain on names for all the Under 16s/15s; certainly if I was then I'd be able to go into more detail. However, games like this with a blend of players in similar age groups will help them if/when they do eventually step up to youth level in the near future.
Of all the players who featured tonight, I doubt few enjoyed it more than Ethan Bojang who made his first 'start' following a prolonged spell on the sidelines. Josh Clemitson, who left the field on a stretcher in the win over Notts County three days ago, also featured.
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