The EFL still haven't decided/announced what formula they'll use to (potentially) decide league tables, though I'd expect there might be an announcement sooner rather than later.
Total Goals: 143
Highest Scoring Game: 8 Goals (U23s 6-2 vs Huddersfield, U18s 6-2 vs Huddersfield)
Lowest Scoring Game: 1 Goal (Various)
Money Spent: Too Much!
Best overall game: Scunthorpe 1-2 Doncaster (U18s), 27th September
Although others might choose the 2-1 success at Mansfield in early February, this victory at Scunthorpe was my personal favourite. Not only did the lads show maturity to come from behind and get the three points (even after losing Will McGowan to injury), it put an end to a dodgy run of results.
Most enjoyable/dramatic moment: Luca Nelson's winner (vs Notts County U18s), 7th March
Without any doubt, this was the best moment of the season. It was Luca Nelson's first goal of the campaign and the timing couldn't have been better; a last-gasp strike to stretch the lads' winning streak to five games and keep them clear at the top of the FLYA by some distance.
Least enjoyable game (and worst DRFC team display): Mansfield 4-3 Doncaster (U18s), 29th October
I wasn't at the 6-3 cup defeat to the Stags in September, so can't comment on whatever happened in that one. However, this defeat at Field Mill was frustrating because with half-an-hour played, the lads were on top and 1-0 up, before they crumbled. When you score three goals in a game, you shouldn't end up on the losing side. That's what happened though, so we move on...
Best DRFC goal scored: Jack Watson (Vs Lincoln), 22nd February
At the time I didn't fully appreciate the good build-up play which preceded the goal but, after watching it back afterwards, it was of a really high quality. I've attached the video below so you can see it for yourselves. Fair play, lads...
Best opposition goal scored: Adam Hammill, 2nd March
Scunthorpe's Adam Hammill was on target in this game with a stunning, instinctive effort from the halfway line direct from a re-start. It was sublime - even though Rovers' trialist 'keeper should have done a lot better. The only other goal which comes close was Rio Molyneaux's strike (and Mansfield's fourth goal) in the FA Youth Cup defeat at Field Mill.
Worst miss: Alex Kiwomya (vs Huddersfield U23s), 5th November
Remember, remember the 5th November... or Alex Kiwomya's 'open goal' miss? Shane Blaney's curling free-kick ricocheted off the post towards Kiwomya who, despite being unmarked and in a great position inside the six-yard box, somehow, put the follow-up wide. It's a good job it didn't happen in a first team environment otherwise it might have ended up on a bloopers DVD in years to come.
Best DRFC team performance: Vs Grimsby (U18s), 3rd August
This was a very accomplished and commanding team display which set a high benchmark for the rest of the season. The lads dominated from the first whistle, ripped their opponents to shreds, and were 3-0 up with less than 20 minutes on the clock. It was also perfect revenge on the Mariners who'd won the FLYA the previous season (at the expense of Rovers) courtesy of an injury-time goal.
Best opposition team performance: Exeter vs Doncaster (U23s), 24th February
The Grecians have a damn good academy due to the large catchment area in which they can attract players and would have won this game had it not been for Louis Jones' sheer excellence between the posts. Gary McSheffrey described them afterwards as 'Probably the best team we've faced this season' and I'd agree with that.
Worst opposition team performance: Scunthorpe vs Doncaster (U23s), 2nd March
Maybe I expected too much from Scunny ahead of this game, who knows? Regardless, they got plopped 6-1, it should have easily been a bigger scoreline and they looked dreadful. Yes, DRFC played exceptionally well, but equally the visitors were awful.
Best individual DRFC performance: Jack Watson (vs Burton U18s), 31st August
Across the Under 23s and 18s, there's been some terrific individual displays which all deserve a mention; Max Watters and Kian Johnson at Rotherham in October being two, Louis Jones' display against Exeter being another, whilst Will McGowan's vision and technique has also sliced open so many opposing teams. My choice though is Jack Watson's display against Burton in August, because, to score four times in a game is some achievement. One strike won him the LFE Goal of the Month award as well.
Best individual opposition performance: John McAtee (Scunthorpe), 19th November
After some thought I've chosen John McAtee in this category. His movement was on a different level during the 1-1 draw at Cantley Park in November, even though his finishing was awry. Others who made a lasting impression during the course of the season were Harry Jessop (Scunthorpe), Elliot Goldthorp (Bradford) and Rio Molyneux (Mansfield).
Best DRFC performer(s) overall (U18s): Ben Blythe
As mentioned many times, Ben Blythe has led by example all year long - producing several mature, confident and impressive displays in defence. Special mentions must also go to Will McGowan, Jack Watson and Junior Smith who, once he found consistency, was another top performer.
Best DRFC performer(s) overall (U23s): Max Watters
Max Watters wins in this category due to the fact his displays earned him a call-up to the first team squad where he featured a handful of times. Others who've done well over the course of the season are AJ Greaves (always tough/combative), Branden Horton (who has looked accomplished at both left-back and left centre-back) and Danny Amos (who has continued to get better).
Most dramatic comeback: Grimsby (U23s), 3rd December
With only a quarter-of-an-hour to go, it seemed inconceivable that Grimsby would get anything from the game as they trailed 2-0 down and hadn't played particularly well. Somehow though, they did just that - capitalising on some poor defending to strike three times in quick succession!
Biggest surprise: Scunthorpe (U18s) title-race capitulation
When Scunthorpe beat Rovers, 3-2, at Cantley Park in December, they closed the gap at the top of the FLYA table to just two points, though they had four games in hand. It was hard not to put them as title favourites, especially as they'd won seven of their nine games up to this point. However, they achieved just four more points from six games after Christmas! What on earth went wrong?
Worst referee/decision: Dane Carrick (various U23s games)
I don't want to hang referees out to dry, especially ones who give up their spare time to do midweek afternoon games. However, there were probably a few players wishing Dane Carrick hadn't bothered to turn up as he handed out seven yellows in one fixture which wasn't overly aggressive. After showing zero cards during his next appearance, he reverted back to dishing them out like confetti in another game later in the season. Some of the cards were absolutely ridiculous and, unfortunately, I haven't seen a worse referee in the last 12 months.
Best facility visited: PPG Canalside, Huddersfield
Although this place isn't your traditional training ground, it's somewhere I enjoyed visiting. Located on the outskirts of the town centre, bizarrely just behind a McDonalds Drive-Thru, it boasts decent facilities including a well-maintained grass pitch on which DRFC put goals six past their counterparts in a ruthless performance.
Weirdest facility visited: St George's Park (Graves), Chesterfield/Sheffield
This is a weird place. Firstly, it's not actually in Chesterfield - it's on the outskirts of Sheffield, squeezed behind a small retail park which includes a Greggs/Costa Coffee. There's literature telling you not to wear high heels or take pushchairs onto the pitch and you have to 'sign in' to access the facility - even if you're just a spectator! The lads played on the 4G pitch as Chesterfield's Fans Club had organised a match on the adjacent grass pitch against another set of supporters! They'll be no trip here next season, nevertheless, as the Spireites are closing their academy (to an extent) as knock-on effects of relegation from the EFL, two years ago, continue.
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