Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-2 Preston North End (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-2 Preston North End (U18s)

Football League Youth Alliance Cup (Group Stage)

Wednesday 28th October 2020

Owan Derrett and Luca Nelson scored a goal each as Doncaster Rovers drew 2-2 with Preston North End in their opening group fixture in the Youth Alliance Cup.

Although PNE will be far the happier side with the result considering they equalised in the 88th minute, once Rovers have overcome the disappointment of having not won a game which they deserved to based on the overall balance of play, they'll be able to see the positives regarding their performance.

They dominated for lengthy periods against opponents who were technically decent and also created the more frequent chances - only to not have the result guaranteed by the time a visiting substitute let fly with a goalbound effort following a corner routine in the dying minutes.

It's frustrating; it's disappointing but it happens - that's football! 

The finale can definitely be used a 'learning curve' going into the next game (away to Notts County this weekend). It's a golden opportunity to turn a negative into a positive by using the frustration felt right now as motivation to ensure that game ends in success. If there is a collective anger, desire, determination, willingness and focus right the way across the team and it's combined with a similar performance then I'd be optimistic there will be a successful outcome on Saturday!

Aside from the finale, the team performance today (and, in some cases, individual showings), was impressive and there are positives to be found. To back this point up, for example, if comparisons were drawn between today's performance and ones against Lincoln and Scunthorpe in September, it's immediately clear and obvious to see that progress has been made in many areas.

The lads shouldn't be too hard, or too harsh, on themselves because things are still a 'work in progress' and whilst there are some areas which remain a cause for concern (e.g. the lads have taken a while at the start of most games before they get into any rhythm), I'm happy to take the positives from this result.

Anyway, as for the game...

Played on the 4G pitch adjacent to the Keepmoat Stadium, it was immediately apparent that Preston were a good technical team containing a number of players both with decent ability on the ball and capable of some brilliant movement. 

The Lilywhites established a foothold almost from the outset, then dominated possession throughout the first quarter-of-an-hour or so during which they naturally had the territorial advantage. The focus and concentration levels across the entire Doncaster back-line needed to be high because it seemed any mistake could lead to an opening, whilst the centre-back pairing of Max Jemson and Josh Clemitson both made interceptions in order to keep their counterparts at bay.

It was clear Rovers were up against good opponents and Ben Bottomley made his first save of the game after four minutes when he was quick from his line to smother a shot following some good work inside the area by PNE's No.9 to get into a shooting position.

Preston were playing positively and soon created two more openings in quick succession.

The first opening came from a well-worked corner and saw the woodwork rattled with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area, before Bottomley was soon at full-stretch as he tipped over another strike - this time following a driving run and shot from a further distance.

Rovers' threat up to the midway point in the first period had been sporadic. Although they'd actually worked the ball forward on a few occasions - including one move where an offside flag came to the visitors' rescue, it was still Preston who were looking much the more dangerous team.

Therefore, it came as a surprise when Doncaster took the lead on 24 minutes.

PNE's high defensive line, coupled with a quick attack, did the damage. Luca Nelson and Corie Cole combined really well with the younger of the duo then delivering an appetising ball across the box from the inside-left channel towards the unmarked Owan Derrett who finished with aplomb to make it 1-0.

The goal signalled a huge momentum shift as Rovers then completely dominated things up to half-time and played some of, if not actually their best football to date this season.

Derrett was foiled by a near-post save during the second phase of play after Charlie Bell's set-piece was only partially cleared by the Lilywhites defence, before Clemitson went just as close to making it 2-0 when he unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box which was tipped behind; the shot coming about after a really well-rehearsed free-kick involving Bell and Lewis Cunningham.

Just beyond the half-hour mark, Cole should have been celebrating a second assist when he broke past the halfway line and released an utterly sublime through ball (one of the best I've seen anywhere this season!) for Derrett who was accelerating alongside him on the blind-side of the defender. The goalscorer was unable to add second though with his subsequent effort trickling wide of the post and so it remained 1-0. 

PNE didn't heed the warning signs though as just two minutes later, the same two players linked up again - this time it was Cole put through on goal by his team-mate who'd used his pace excellently after some initial midfield work by Will Hollings during an earlier phase of play and drifted out wide, but the 'keeper made the deftest of saves to keep out Cole's low attempt.

Nelson then went close with a shot which just went wide on the back of some good individual skill soon afterwards, whilst at the other end, skipper Ethan Bojang and Clemitson both made blocks during the five minutes immediately prior to half-time - the whistle for which couldn't come soon enough for Preston!

Although the pressure wasn't quite as intense after the re-start (and the heavens had by now opened!), Doncaster continued to probe, press and lurk with intent in the early stages of the second period with Nelson again going agonisingly close to scoring when his 20-yard drive came back off the upright.

With the wind now having an effect on proceedings, Bell also clipped the woodwork with a right-footed in-swinging corner which almost caught out a back-peddling 'keeper a couple of minutes later.

A midfield battle then ensued over the next few minutes before Rovers' next cluster of chances in quick succession - amongst which Cunningham (still awaiting his first goal in the youth team) put one high and wide from around eight yards out, whilst the visiting 'keeper then thwarted Nelson by saving his goalbound effort from Nelson following some more neat and clever play by Cole.

Given how they'd played, Rovers should have been much further ahead by this point so it was 'sods law' that they were punished for not converting their chances on 65 minutes. A PNE player picked up possession around 20 yards out, turned to shoot (from what appeared to be a tight angle) on the inside-right channel and unleashed a lightning-quick shot with total venom which beat Bottomley and rippled the net, via a deflection off the under-side of the woodwork. It was a very good strike!

With a quarter of the game still remaining, the equaliser meant things were now very much in the balance once again and although Donny looked to be more fluid on the ball, the visitors remained a dangerous threat - especially their substitutes who had just been introduced.

Rovers went close again on 73 minutes courtesy of another set-piece by Bell as his whipped, teasing and dangerous in-swinging delivery from a corner was right under the crossbar and had to be watched extremely carefully by the PNE 'keeper, who tipped it away to avoid embarrassment.

Preston's luck didn't hold out though and moments later, they found themselves behind in a goal which was testament to hard-work and persistence by Nelson; attaching himself tightly to the shoulder of the last defender who to shield the ball out of play following a downfield ball, then managing to nip it off him at the byline, before carving out an angle and slotting it home for 2-1.

Although PNE will likely consider the goal to have been the result of an individual mistake, it's worth remembering that it simply wouldn't have happened had Nelson not been so persistent in his efforts to chase the ball down and make it difficult for the defender in the first place!

Though it seemed as if Nelson's finish might prove to be difference between the two teams, it proved not to be the case as PNE equalised with 88 minutes on the clock - a short corner routine culminating in an unmarked player being allowed the time and space to curl an attempt into the top corner from 20 yards - another good finish albeit one where more could have been done to prevent the opening anyway!

However, Rovers could have still snatched the win in dramatic fashion with what was practically the last kick of the game. Nelson showcased yet more persistence, hard work and strength to battle his way into the box whilst under pressure and he flashed a low cross-shot across the face of goal which went agonisingly wide of the far-post despite Bojang also sliding in but unable to get a touch on the ball!

It meant the lads had to settle for a draw and endure the frustration of having been minutes away from a well-deserved victory, though they can certainly take so much pride from their efforts.

Paul Stancliffe has described it as 'the best performance so far this season' and I'd be inclined to agree because there were many pleasing and positive aspects.

Both Luca Nelson and Owan Derrett applied themselves superbly to the cause; Derrett with his pace and the way in which he worked the channels very effectively when he drifted out wide and Nelson with his endeavour, persistence and in how he managed to get his body infront of the defenders so many times when battling to win the ball. It was a very good 'shift' for them both and they deserved a goal each - although they probably wish they could have scored at least one more each! 

Corie Cole, in my opinion, was superb with some of the things he did. It was his best performance which I've seen and his potential, intelligence and link-up play was frighteningly good at times; I just wish he'd managed to get an assist off that through ball during the first half.

Elsewhere, there were some other good showings. As a unit, the defence did well and is beginning to look more confident (though naturally there are still some things to work on in order to become steely, resilient and have a 'We shall not be breached' mentality). Charlie Bell stamped his authority on the game to a good standard again for a second successive week and was heavily involved, whilst Josh Clemitson deserves a mention as he played the full game at centre-back and looks more assured, confident and composed compared to this time last season. It's very good to see!

On the whole, if the lads put in performances similar to this every week then they're going to have an enjoyable season and get some good results. Preston are a very good team with some very good players (as they showed early on) yet Rovers more than competed with them in this game!

Team: Ben Bottomley, Tom Henson, Max Jemson, Josh Clemitson, Lewis Cunningham, Charlie Bell, Ethan Bojang, Will Hollings, Corie Cole, Owan Derrett, Luca Nelson. Subs Used: Dan Wilds, Alex Wolny.