Carlisle United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers (2003)

Carlisle United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers

Nationwide Division Three

Saturday 29th November 2003

 

Everyone surely remembers their first away day and this obscure trip 'up north' to witness a Division Three clash involving Carlisle United and Doncaster Rovers was mine!

Despite being tagged as 'relegation favourites' amongst many bookmakers before a ball had even been kicked, Rovers had surprised many people with their impressive form and found themselves in an automatic promotion spot, level on points with local rivals Hull City, and just a point behind table-toppers Oxford United.

Fortunes had been much less favourable for Carlisle, however, because their wretched form meant that even with over half the season still to play, relegation already looked to be a foregone conclusion. The Cumbrians found themselves on a confidence-crushing 10-game losing streak and they were completely rooted to the bottom of the Football League with just five points to show from 19 outings. Paul Simpson, who had replaced Roddy Collins just a few weeks into the new campaign, could have hardly encountered a tougher start to his fledgling managerial career.

Even though much has changed around the world, there are some similarities between then and now - thanks largely to a certain Shane Richie. Nowadays stuck in a multi-camera Welsh castle filled with creepy-crawlies, the actor was at the height of his EastEnders popularity back in November 2003 and his hit single 'I'm Your Man' for Children In Need received plenty of air-time on the radio on the way up to Cumbria! 

Aside from seeing dozens of green fields adjacent to the A66 from Scotch Corner to Penrith, another memory from the journey north is hearing news that a stray firework had struck someone in the crowd prior to Wolves' Premier League home game against whoever they were playing. The journey itself, on one of the fleet of six coaches organised by the Supporters Club, took around four hours and though it was cold upon arrival, the sun was shining - something which would change drastically over the next few hours!

With the Petterill End behind the goal permanently closed, the 600 or so supporters who made the trip were housed in a wing section of the relatively new 'East Stand' which was shared with Carlisle's fans who were located on the other side of some segregation netting.

The atmosphere was decent with plenty of chants going back and forth as kick-off approached amidst the nerves that comes with being a football fan. Would Dave Penney's team be able to get another three points and maintain what was fast-becoming a promotion push at the top of Division Three or would Carlisle be able to arrest their horrendous form at long last. A peculiar pre-match rendition of 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor over the PA system signalled the hosts' intent.

Deteriorating windy weather, which I remember swung the scoreboard back and forth, ensured the game was far from a classic. Though you couldn't fault the effort levels of Carlisle's players who battled bravely, created several chances and put up a good showing, Rovers always looked that bit cuter and composed in crucial areas and they made the hosts pay for several missed chances thanks to a Leo Fortune-West goal midway through the second period.

It proved important as Rovers went on to top the Division Three table by Christmas - a position they would never relinquish for more than a couple of games as they ultimately became champions to earn a second successive promotion. Carlisle, however, didn't finish bottom and instead launched a stirring fightback to try and avoid relegation. They got above themselves above York City, who they were 23 points adrift of at the time of this game, but nobody else and ultimately fell into the Nationwide Conference for the first time in their history before escaping it at the first attempt in 2004/05 and then emulating Rovers' exploits in achieving back-to-back promotions.

Sadly, prices have increased substantially compared to nowadays. This day out - including travel, a match ticket, a programme AND something to eat, cost under £30! It's an ironic twist that the two clubs will meet again, today, on the 17th anniversary and just a shame no fans are permitted as it's certainly one game which I'd have gone based on nostalgia alone.

Carling Cup Memories (Part 4)

It was perhaps the best ever night under the floodlights at Belle Vue. A game which accelerated the resurgence of Doncaster Rovers, captured the imagination of TV audiences throughout the world and is still often discussed to this day.

Wild celebrations, euphoria and even a re-make on a popular hit single followed as Dave Penney's unlikely underdogs grabbed the media spotlight and received wide acclaim for their mesmerising performance infront of the Sky Sports cameras!

Now 15 years ago, of course the game in question is when Premier League Aston Villa came to Belle Vue and got well and truly 'hammered' in the Carling Cup. 

Nobody amongst the sell-out 10,590 crowd - the largest at a Rovers home game in over 30 years, could have anticipated witnessing such a distinguished and breathtaking accomplishment. Villa weren't just beaten - their line-up of international stars were outplayed, outclassed, out-fought, out-thought, humiliated, disgraced and embarrassed and it caused David O'Leary the bleakest night of his managerial career. Not even a thinly-veiled attack by the Irishman towards the officials during his post-match interview could deflect attention away from what was, on the flip side, another undisputed 'golden' moment in John Ryan's chairmanship.

Having already sparked media interest for dispatching of Stuart Pearce's Manchester City on penalties in Round Two, followed by a 2-0 success over league rivals Gillingham in Round Three, a feverish 'buzz' and growing excitement had long-since existed in regards to Rovers' journey in the competition. So when Aston Villa were presented as Fourth Round opponents, Sky Sports were quick to reveal that they'd be coming back at Belle Vue to cover the game.

Everyone sensed another giant-killing might be on the cards but could it really happen again? Would Doncaster Rovers, mid-table in League One, really be able to knock out another established top flight team? Could lightning strike twice? Was it actually possible? Or was it just a pipe dream?

Long queues lined the pot-hole ridden car park at the old ground long into the night as tickets for the big game were like gold dust and sold-out in no time whatsoever. Cup fever had engrossed the town. The club 'cashed in' with special memorabilia to mark the event and as the tie drew nearer and nearer throughout November, it was the game everyone couldn't wait to see.

From the media's perspective, much of their pre-match hype and coverage centred on the two goalkeepers.

In Rovers' ranks was Jan Budtz - a cult-like figure who could do no wrong in the eyes of many supporters after his dramatic penalty-saving exploits on his debut against Man City. Villa's regular shot-stopper, by coincidence, was his fellow countryman, Thomas Sorensen - an established Premier League custodian who was also Denmark's undisputed 'Number 1' at the time. The game was quickly dubbed 'The Battle Of The Vikings' and that exact phrase was used on the cover for the matchday programme with images of the two 'keepers. It was tempting fate, based on the assumption that both men would feature, and as is sometimes the case, the pre-match headlines proved to be a false dawn. Instead, rookie Slovenian 'keeper Dino Seremet, signed on loan from Luton only a few days earlier, kept goal for Rovers.

O'Leary, whose side had put eight goals past Wycombe two rounds earlier, knew he couldn't take anything for granted so therefore named his strongest possible side. Amongst the familiar names on show were England duo James Milner and Gareth Barry, whilst Milan Baros - a Champions League winner with Liverpool just six months earlier, partnered Colombian Juan Pablo Angel in attack. It was a formidable line-up though talent on its own wasn't just going to achieve victory. The mental challenge of having to adapt to Belle Vue's highly unusual and unsettling surroundings was always going to be crucial in any outcome. 

Whether it be the freezing cold mid-winter temperatures on the night, the squalid and cramped conditions in the away team dressing room, or the raucous and intimidating atmosphere created by Rovers fans desperate to see another cup upset, this was completely new territory for O'Leary's multi-million pound megastars.

A deafening roar of excitement from the souls who'd squeezed onto the jam-packed terraces greeted the players as they emerged onto the pitch to Carl Orff's classical motivational masterpiece 'Carmina Burana' from their separate tunnels (another quirk of the old ground). It whet the appetite. The big moment had finally arrived. There was no more build-up. There was no hiding place. It was time to perform - and, quite simply, Villa's players crumbled under the weight of expectation as their reputations were mercilessly ripped apart infront of the watching world.

Less than 20 minutes had been played when Liam Ridgwell's outstretched arm connected with James Coppinger's ball into the box. Appeals for a penalty went up straight away and Mike Dean pointed to the penalty spot. Despite lengthy protestations from the infuriated visitors, Rovers had (quite literally!) been handed a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock, infront of their own fans on the Town End, and talisman Michael McIndoe was placed with the responsibility. Though Sorensen, having clearly done his homework, guessed the same way which the Scotsman often put his penalties, this time McIndoe's spot-kick was low, hard and perfectly placed into the opposite corner - much to everyone's delight. It was 1-0 and as the winger was mobbed by his team-mates to a backdrop of Tony Christie's 'Amarillo' playing aloud over the PA system, fans were beginning to dream of what might be!

For such a richly-talented team (at least on paper), Villa struggled to muster up anything remotely meaningful for large swathes of proceedings. Their endeavour simply didn't match Rovers' zest and they toiled, looked troubled, and still trailed by the half-time interval.

An upset was still only tentatively on the cards at this point but only a few minutes into the second half, decibels were raised in an instant and Villa's miserable night got a whole heap worse thanks to Paul Heffernan. The Irishman, signed from Bristol City the previous summer, exposed gaps in Villa's backline and was perfectly-placed in an unmarked position to receive Lewis Guy's exquisite first-time lay-off from Dave Mulligan's cross, before he squeezed a low drive beyond a desperate, full-stretch Sorensen to spark more joyous celebrations.

If one goal was an advance, two goals was a charge - and Rovers were by now charging towards a place in the Carling Cup Quarter-Finals barring any fightback from the Premier League side!

Villa continued to toil, even after Kevin Phillips' introduction to bolster their front-line on the hour mark - too many of their players looked sluggish, others sheepish in the difficult surroundings and some completely anonymous. They couldn't get anywhere near those wearing red and white hoops, let alone cause problems, and barring a half-hearted penalty appeal when Baros went to ground inside the box, they showed few signs of staging any comeback as precious minutes ticked away.

With a quarter-of-an-hour to go, just when they thought their night couldn't get much worse, Sean Thornton put the icing on the remarkable triumph with a run and 25-yard drive which caught a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Sorensen and end up in the net. As celebrations of gleeful delight followed once again, there was no doubts whatsoever by now that everyone was witnessing a breathtaking, famous night under the Belle Vue floodlights - and Rovers were heading for the Quarter-Finals. 'Let The Party Commence' as commentator Alan Parry remarked to the watching millions on Sky Sports!

The final whistle sparked euphoric scenes as thousands of fans streamed onto the pitch to congratulate their heroes. Camera lenses flashed away and chants of 'Rovers Til I Die' echoed across Belle Vue. Everyone took in the moment - some beaming with pride, others overcome with emotion. Nobody could quite believe what they'd witnessed; it had been a remarkable game beyond even what was conceivable in the wildest of people's imaginations!

O'Leary cut an extremely glum and wounded figure as he conducted his post-match interview pitchside, knowing full well that this was the worst moment of his managerial career. His reputation in tatters, his anger turned towards the officials. It was sour grapes, in truth, and it couldn't disguise the manner of the defeat. It was simply incomprehensible to Villa's furious fans who wanted him sacked without excuse and also owner Doug Ellis, renowned for his deadly reputation, who expressed his disgust through the media.

There was nothing, however, which could overshadow how magnificently Rovers had performed right the way across the pitch. McIndoe had tormented and tortured the visitors with his bamboozling footwork and jinking runs down the left-wing; Thornton, with his extravagant flair and quality, had been too much to handle; Guy, whose nonchalant first-touch was outstanding; Heffernan who'd shown predatory instincts to punish any mistakes. The defence, though they'd not had much to do, were resolute throughout.

To this day, it remains perhaps the greatest ever display by any Doncaster Rovers team!

A highlights remake dubbed to Daniel Powter's chart-topping hit 'Bad Day' quickly went viral (even by 2005's standards) and rubbed salt into Villa's sore wounds. So did another song 'Is This The Way To Hammer Villa' which was a cheeky play on the lyrics to 'Amarillo' and was recorded by supporters before being released for sale.

As the entire football world soaked up news of the remarkable exploits, attention gradually moved towards the next step in the Carling Cup journey - the Quarter-Final draw! What would be the reward for 'hammering' Villa? Premier League opponents were already guaranteed, but would it be an away trip or would another team be risking their reputations by visiting Belle Vue?

After yet more feverish excitement and anticipation, it was revealed... Arsenal were up next!

Concord Rangers in the FA Cup

Concord Rangers 0-1 Mansfield Town

FA Cup First Round

Tuesday 25th November 2014

Liam Marsden in the thick of the action! (Photo: Chris Holloway)

When Mansfield Town drew Concord Rangers in the FA Cup in the 2014/15 season, most fans probably asked themselves the obvious question - who are they?

The Beachboys, located in Canvey Island in Essex, were making their debut in the First Round and were a Conference South outfit who'd quickly progressed through the lower reaches of non-league under the stewardship of management duo Danny and Nicky Cowley, in the previous half-a-dozen or so years. Despite a name which suggests otherwise, they actually have no links to those big jumbo jets which used to dominate skylines either!

On paper, it seemed a straightforward enough tie to navigate; a home game against a part-time outfit from two divisions lower. It certainly offered respite from what was always going to be a tumultuous League Two campaign which, after severe budget cuts the previous summer, meant survival was always the aim and every point was vital.

Of course, however, things don't always go to plan and this 'breather' from league action turned into a nightmare.

After the initial tie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch just an hour-and-a-half or so before kick-off on Saturday 8th November, the Beachboys eventually played at Field Mill ten days later and produced a stirring, battling and committed midweek display which earned them a 1-1 draw with Jordan Chiedozie's spectacular equaliser coming pretty much straight after Danny Glozier's own goal.

In the wake of the result (and especially the underwhelming performance) and amidst internal politics which involved one director being a pain in the arse over pretty much everything, Paul Cox left the club and it meant Adam Murray was 'caretaker manager' for the replay.

A trip to the Aspect Arena, where Concord play, offered the chance to visit a new ground on a personal level, but everything about it was horrible. Adjacent to a caravan park, it was cold, it was damp, it was dark when we arrived, it wasn't inviting and the pitch didn't look great!

Conditions were absolutely ripe for a cup shock and nobody was being disrespectful to Concord Rangers now by wondering 'Who are they?' given they'd already, essentially, cost one manager his job! A trip to this particular part of Essex also brought back haunting memories of an away game at Braintree Town, around 18 months earlier, where we managed to almost screw up winning the Conference Premier!

After a lengthy down south, the team had a pre-match meal (with no thanks to the certain aforementioned director) before heading to the Aspect Arena. 

Backed by a large home crowd who wanted desperately to see a cup shock, light rain just added an extra element of difficulty to proceedings as Concord began positively and forced the majority of the openings during the first 45 minutes as Matt Fry and Lewis Taaffe both went close.

Thankfully, our performance improved sufficiently enough to get the job done in the second half and after Fergus Bell had struck a post, it was Ollie Palmer, himself a player with a non-league background as we'd signed him from Havant & Waterlooville who turned out to be the match-winner - converting Rob Taylor's cross just past the hour mark to make it 1-0. Concord battled bravely, thereafter, and with some of the chances they created, they perhaps should have forced extra-time but it just wasn't to be for them. 

A banana-skin had been avoided but aptly, as The Beachboys infamously sang in 'Sloop John B'... 'I wanna go home. This is the worst trip I've ever been on' probably summed up emotions at the full-time whistle. It was relief more than celebration and all the plaudits deserved to go to the hosts for what they'd achieved over the course of the two games!

Their manager, Danny Cowley, conducted himself impressively throughout - at no time more so than when news filtered through that the initial tie was postponed due to the crap weather. Others may have expressed their anger but he didn't (at least not publicly) so it came as no surprise whatsoever when he earned a move to Braintree at the end of the 2014/15 season; being successful there before going on to make his mark as one of the best managers to have emerged from non-league football in several years with everything which he achieved at Lincoln City.

At Mansfield, we lost over two games in the Second Round to Cambridge United - conceding a last-gasp equaliser in the initial tie at the Abbey Stadium which ultimately proved vital as the U's went on to meet a team called Manchester United at Old Trafford only a few rounds later.

Several players, primarily from Concord's line-up, also went on to better things. Jordan Chiedozie's goal in the first game, which brought about plenty of fanfare, saw him join Cambridge whilst Alex Woodyard and Josh Vickers later played at Lincoln. Three Mansfield players; Ollie Palmer, Lee Beevers and Matt Rhead also had spells at Sincil Bank further down the line too.

Sascha Studer (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Reggie Lambe on the muddy surface (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Ollie Palmer charges through (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Josh Vickers watches as a shot goes over (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Rob Taylor (now in Australia) on the ball. (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Concord's players line-up in the 'tunnel' (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Home fans watch on! (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Liam Marsden takes a throw! (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Simon Heslop and Reggie Lambe in battle (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Emotions on show, not celebrations, at the final whistle! (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Ollie Palmer is congratulated after the opener (Photo: Chris Holloway).

The away team bench with the caravan park in the background (Photo: Chris Holloway).

A poster in the clubhouse advertising the big game!

The Aspect Arena before the battle!

Traumatised by Captain Pugwash!

Fleetwood Town 5-4 Mansfield Town

Sky Bet League One

Saturday 23rd November 2013

Captain Pugwash!

I've got to admit that I've never watched the kids programme, nor am I ever likely to, but it's theme tune is one which still sends a shiver down my spine.

Why? Because it's Fleetwood Town's irritatingly catchy (and very, very, very clever goal music) which I got to hear no fewer than five times during this utterly frustrating game. Chuck in a long winless streak beforehand, a defensive horror show with mistakes galore and conceding a last-gasp injury-time penalty to get beat, not to mention a dancing fish on the big screen after every goal, and Mr Pugwash kinda leaves a lingering bad memory!

To paint some context of the mood going into the game, it was Mansfield's first season back in the Football League but despite an initially bright start which heralded 18 points from the opening 9 games, the wheels had dramatically fallen off by late November. The team were in 'free fall' in Sky Bet League Two table, hadn't won in seven league games, hadn't scored many goals during that time and quite honestly, it was hard to envisage where the next win was coming from.

Even though we (supposedly) had one of the biggest budgets in the division at around £1.4M, I certainly didn't expect to get anything from this game as Fleetwood were well embedded in the play-off positions, genuinely going for promotion, had been chucking big money around to get better players, and had also signed Nathan Tyson on loan only a few days earlier. The rest of their squad had flair (Matty Blair, Antoni Sarcevic) and experience (Jon Parkin) whilst, by contrast, our squad included a striker nicknamed 'cone head', another who joined the club from JCB and an ex-postman-cum-attacking midfielder.

Quite honestly, given that we'd been absolutely woeful for a good few weeks beforehand - including in a horrendous 3-0 defeat at Southend United when debutant James Alabi (on loan from Stoke City) was red carded, I expected nothing less than a defeat!

After a lot of fanfare beforehand in and around the press area over Jamie McGuire (a tough-tackling midfielder who we'd signed from Fleetwood the previous summer), we then made the most catastrophic start to the game by conceding the type of goal which should be on a 'Football Bloopers DVD' somewhere, within only 20 seconds of kick-off.

The teams emerge for kick-off (Photo: Martin Shaw)

Anthony Howell was the culprit as he gave away possession on the edge of the box and then collided with Alan Marriott just as he was just about to gather the loose ball into his grasp. Subsequently, Gareth Evans slotted home and Captain Pugwash's catchy tune was soon playing aloud over the PA system!

You could only despair at the defending and wonder why nobody had just whacked the ball as far down the pitch as possible. In slow-motion, we'd contrived to sleepwalk into danger, paid the price, and there was a gloomy resignation that this indeed would be a long afternoon.

Nevertheless, a 1-0 deficit, very surprisingly, soon became a 2-1 lead.

Chris Clements, who previously hadn't scored for Mansfield, equalised with a low free-kick after nine minutes before Fleetwood's Ryan Cresswell then decided to have a 'brain fart' by shanking an attempted clearance from the edge of his six-yard box straight to Howell who smashed the ball home.

Even with less than a quarter-of-an-hour played, you got the distinct feeling that this could be one of those stupidly 'bonkers' afternoons when there are goals left, right and centre and the script just goes totally out of the window!

The hosts levelled through Antoni Sarcevic's penalty, awarded after a clumsy tackle by Martin Riley, prior to half-time and as daylight turned to dusk early in the second period, they turned the screw sufficiently enough to establish a 4-2 lead with both Sarcevic and Evans on target once more.

After the fourth goal went in (and Mr Pugwash's irritating theme tune was again blazing aloud), defeat seemed inevitable. Fleetwood were well on top at this point, in complete command and the last thing anyone expected was a comeback!

But that's exactly what materialised. Sam Clucas' flicked header with 13 minutes remaining swung momentum back in our favour and then on the brink of stoppage-time, Ross Dyer stabbed the ball home from less than a yard out to make it 4-4 and spark wild celebrations.

Surely that would be the end of it? Oh no...

Six minutes of injury-time were declared and during it, Fleetwood threw everything forward in search of a dramatic late winner. Just as it seemed that there would be no further goals, Matty Blair, a ghost of Mansfield past, accelerated past James Jennings down the right flank to get into a shooting position inside the area.

'Don't dive in, JJ. Don't dive in, don't dive... oh for f**ks sake' were my exact thoughts as Jennings' challenge connected with the winger and left referee Scott Mathieson with no other option but to point to the penalty spot. After a long delay, Sarcevic stepped up and duly dispatched his effort from 12 yards.

Even though the defeat was self-inflicted because of the defending at various stages, it felt absolutely gut-wrenching, demoralising and downright horrible as the Fleetwood players celebrated with their fans having earned a dramatic 5-4 win, whilst that stupid dancing fish and the bloody Captain Pugwash music played over the PA system yet again.

Ultimately, I've never been back to Fleetwood as they won promotion to Sky Bet League One at the end of the 2013/14 season and, although we stayed up at Mansfield, I never really enjoyed the remaining two years or so of my time at the club as a combination of this energy-sapping bad run, cost-cutting, and internal club politics meant a crisis never seemed too far away from happening. 

But fair play to Fleetwood and their annoyingly catchy goal music which still gives me nightmares!

Rotherham United (U18s) 3-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Rotherham United (U18s) 3-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Football League Youth Alliance

Saturday 21st November 2020

Having seen full-match footage, here's a match report and some additional thoughts on what unfolded in Doncaster Rovers' latest youth team outing...

Doncaster Rovers' youth team were brought back down to earth with a bump as they were beaten by Rotherham United in the EFL Youth Alliance on Saturday.

Just three days after a stellar showing in their dramatic win over Hull City in the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup, the youngsters couldn't produce a repeat performance and only had themselves to blame in this defeat.

Despite conceding inside the opening few minutes, Ethan Bojang's leveller ensured Rovers were on level terms at half-time and achieving three points then appeared to be a real possibility after Alex Wolny pounced upon a goalkeeping error to make it 2-1.

Nevertheless, it proved to be a false dawn as two Rotherham goals only six minutes apart ensured it was the home team who were celebrating success come the final whistle.

Manager Paul Stancliffe was again without injured duo Charlie Bell and Max Jemson and with one eye no doubt on an upcoming cluster of games, he opted to freshen things up in attack as both Wolny and Tavonga Kuleya were given some much needed game-time and started in place of regular frontmen Owan Derrett and Luca Nelson.

Rotherham began with more purpose and intent and went close to an opener inside two minutes as a free-kick from the edge of the box had to be palmed away by Ben Bottomley.

There was nothing which the Rovers 'keeper could do to prevent the Millers from going 1-0 up only moments later, however, as a long and dangerous left-wing cross towards the edge of the six-yard box was emphatically volleyed into the net by a striker who'd peeled off Lewis Cunningham's shoulder.

It was a sloppy goal to concede and easy to fear the worst at this point!

Rovers did respond with a couple of openings in quick succession; firstly as Cunningham was off-target when he found space inside the box but snatched at his effort on nine minutes, whilst the pacey Kuleya went close too with an angled drive which went narrowly wide.

The lads' performance gradually improved as time progressed and they started to see more of the ball and spend more time inside their counterparts' half.

Despite this, it was Rotherham who enjoyed the next dangerous move when they broke away on a counter-attack but some good individual defending by Tom Henson, coupled with good shape in the backline, ensured the hosts' advantage stayed at just the one goal.

Rovers, wearing their away strip, continued to look decent in possession and hopes were raised when they won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box on the half-hour mark. Bojang and Cunningham stood over the ball yet sadly the attempted set-piece routine came to nothing and the hosts were allowed to clear their lines quite easily.

Just a few minutes later, nevertheless, Bojang bagged a captain's goal to deservedly put his team back on level terms. His low 25-yard drive towards the bottom-right corner shouldn't have been all that troublesome or problematic for the home 'keeper who, somehow, managed to dive over the ball and was left to watch in horror as it found its way into the net.

Whether it was a goalkeeping mistake or not, it didn't matter, because the equaliser was reward for the lads' effort and they were very much back in the game at 1-1.

A quick turnaround then almost materialised and the Rovers captain was involved again as his pass inside found Kuleya who opened up his body and unleashed a 20-yard drive which caught a deflection to take it over the upright. From the subsequent corner, Michael Nesbitt (I think) rose highest and headed wide of the target when he perhaps should have at least tested the 'keeper with his attempt.

Rotherham replied to Doncaster's pressure with two corners in quick succession, which were both well defended, whilst Cunningham enjoyed the last notable opportunity before half-time with a 20-yard free-kick which was curled narrowly over the upright.

In the second half, Rovers initially remained on top and seemed the more likely team to achieve a win and only the referee's whistle prevented the Millers from being put in serious danger on 50 minutes with Wolny penalised for a push on an opponent as he attempted to reach a long ball down the flank which would have put him in the clear.

Moments later, the goal was gaping for an unmarked Josh Clemitson who capitalised on some slack Millers marking to get on the end of Cunningham's long set-piece from the left flank, only to see his headed attempt from only a few yards out go over the upright.

It was a significant miss but within less than a minute of it, Rovers managed to establish a lead for the first time in the game.

Another direct ball, this time from Henson, seemed as if it would run through to the 'keeper who was already crouching low on the edge of his area in anticipation of gathering it into his grasp. Wolny, however, had other ideas and his persistence to chase after what seemed to be a lost cause resulted in him getting to the ball first and nipping it around the stationary 'keeper before slotting home into the unguarded goal.

The Millers players pointed at each other in frustration and, whilst they only had themselves to blame, credit has to be given to Wolny for spotting the possible opening.

Now leading 2-1 - and looking good value for it, the lads continued to dictate things over the next few minutes - up to and just beyond the hour mark when they caught another glimpse of goal as Kuleya flashed a low shot wide.

However, Rovers' 'game management' from this point onwards, when things were going so well, left plenty to be desired. Ultimately, it proved to be their undoing as they contrived to throw away the lead which they'd worked so hard to establish.

The hosts, who enjoyed several corners, made it 2-2 on 69 minutes when one of their flag-kicks delivered towards the far-post area exposed weaknesses in the backline and was headed home too easily. Like some of the other goals during the contest - it was a sloppy one to concede; totally preventable, and it signalled another momentum shift. 

It was now Rotherham who pressed and probed with greater intent with Rovers being somewhat penned back and suddenly lacking structure, and the hosts were given a golden chance to reap the rewards for their spell on top when Dan Wilds' untidy challenge resulted in the referee awarding a penalty.

Despite saving from the spot in the midweek win at Hull, Bottomley was unable to repeat his heroics on this occasion as Rotherham's taker slotted past him to make it 3-2 with only a quarter-of-an-hour left to play.

Rovers now had no other option than to 'go for it' but, truthfully, they struggled to muster up meaningful openings as precious minutes ticked away. A series of long balls failed to create any significant danger, the lads looked short on ideas and it was all a bit too simple.

Eventually, time ran out as the referee sounded his whistle and Doncaster were left to reflect on how they'd been beaten - despite the fact they were in a position less than half-an-hour earlier where victory had seemed to be such a strong possibility.

On reflection, the performance poses more questions than answers because it's one which should have been won, was actually won, yet they contrived to let things slip.

I haven't seen the game/video from Hull City and that win - coupled with the fact that by numerous accounts it was the best display of the season, means it'll stop me from going overboard in my criticism.

But on this showing, it wasn't good enough. The game-management (from simple ball retention to utter determination through to the speed/urgency of their play) at the stage where they were winning with under a quarter of the game to go, wasn't anywhere close to being effective. Too much 'character' was missing during the same period, some players offered very little, and, not just those in the midfield, but every player involved has to shoulder their equal share of the responsibility for the end result.

I thought Charlie Bell was sorely missed from a game-management perspective and it's not been the first time where he's not been on the pitch and the team have been winning yet things have been 'wobbly' in his absence. It happened against Burton, it happened at Huddersfield (to a lesser extent) where a late goal set up a nervous period of injury-time. It happened again in this game!

Undoubtedly the worst thing about the result/performance, in my opinion, is that following the sloppy start, which has been an annoying trait this season, the lads recovered, worked hard to get on top, scored two goals (albeit fortuitously as the 'keeper could have done better for both) and they were the better team from around 10 minutes played until just past the hour mark.

The lack of a clean-sheet means it's now nine competitive matches this season without one and whilst I've used this point before, I'll use it again now - if goals are being conceded, it means the strikers have to score at least two goals (sometimes more) in order to win a game. It can't continue to happen.

Missed chances can easily be blamed for disappointing results but cold, hard statistics don't lie and although there are some players who I rate highly on an individual basis, as a collective unit - from the defence to the midfield (as things are going wrong in both parts) they've got to be more solid, tighter, compact and resolute to ensure there aren't any lapses or silly mistakes which prove costly. This defeat was preventable.

Taking everything I've seen into consideration, there's been a notable improvement in overall performances since the start of the season. Collective displays, however, now need to go up a few further notches (and more consistency needs to be shown) because generally the same things are becoming apparent time after time and this was a backwards step after the euphoria of winning in the FA Youth Cup.

If players have a poor game then they know themselves anyway - hence why I won't highlight individuals as that'll no doubt get said in discussions with the manager/coaches. 

Nevertheless, with a further six games between now and Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities to impress and to show progression and improvement as a team. Things such as 'game-management' can't continue to be talked about forever in the long-term; nobody is expecting perfection and mistakes/setbacks will always occur at every level, but if the same issues remain apparent going forward, then the lads are at 'Groundhog Day' and it's going to be a very mixed rest of the season.

For want of a better word, 'blame' will be attributed differently depending on who you ask, but I'm absolutely certain there's enough potential within the group to figure out how to better navigate matches and how to ultimately avoid disappointment from being in winning positions so it's a case of putting that into practice all of the time.

As stated, barring 'worldie' type-goals being scored by the opposition, this was a game that should have been won, was actually won (to a point), yet ultimately it wasn't.

I want to try and finish this post by reflecting on the positives which did happen. In open play, Tom Henson produced one of his best defensive games which I've seen to date as he stood up to the task in one-on-one scenarios, particularly during the first 45 minutes, where he stopped a couple of crosses and forced Rotherham to play the ball backwards. Ethan Bojang got his first goal of the season and even if the 'keeper should have saved the shot, every goal counts! Tavonga Kuleya also had some shots, demonstrated nice, neat footwork and good skill in parts and showed snippets of what he can do. If he's able to bring others into games more, there's an effective player (potentially) in the making!

Next up for the lads is a trip to Grimsby Town on Tuesday for another Football League Youth Alliance fixture.

Team: Ben Bottomley, Tom Henson, Michael Nesbitt, Josh Clemitson, Lewis Cunningham, Dan Wilds, Ethan Bojang, Will Hollings, Corie Cole (Luca Nelson), Alex Wolny (Owan Derrett), Tavonga Kuleya. Unused Sub: Luke Chadwick.

No fans and (yet another) Tory Government disgrace!

It didn't come as a huge shock earlier this week to hear murmurings of supporters being allowed back into football stadiums at some point in the next few weeks.

Quite how it makes sense, given that the country is currently in lockdown and experiencing it's highest Covid-19 infection numbers since the pandemic began, is another matter. If it happens (and I expect it will), it'll be yet another perplexing decision from the most illogical Government in my lifetime!

On the flip side, at least it'll be less stupid than allowing people to gather in indoor sports bars at 'elite' grounds across the country on matchdays when there's a spacious empty ground with a game taking place behind-closed-doors on the other side of some closed curtains.

The good old days at St James' Park, Newcastle, when fans were allowed in stadiums.

In my opinion, the Government's entire handling of the Coronavirus crisis has been a total shambles and after nine months of cluelessness, it's not going to get any better now. The everyday restrictions for most of this year has done untold damage to so many lives and so many businesses and I've no doubt the ramifications will continue well beyond the point at which everyone is vaccinated and the WHO officially declares the pandemic as over.

Onto football and what I think is a total disgrace is the way in which expectations have been placed upon the Premier League to provide some sort of financial bailout for EFL clubs.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are vast sums in the Premier League and the very fact it's member clubs spent around a billion pounds during the summer transfer window proves that they're wealthy and the impact of the virus hasn't had any significant effect on them.

However, those clubs have earned the right to be in the Premier League. They deserve to be there, they've achieved it on merit and, ultimately, they deserve to scoop as much money as possible whilst they're competing at that level. Those running the PL, who lets not remember split from the EFL nearly 30 years ago because they were being held back, have been smart and savvy enough to market their product so effectively in years since that they're now able to attract eye-watering sums. 

So why should they give it up to help clubs lower down the ladder? Football is a business, not a charity and frankly, so what if they're accused of greed? It's akin to the Government telling the biggest construction companies across the country to 'bail out' smaller ones!

Rotherham's New York Stadium - why can't fans be socially distanced here?

I know this might not be a popular opinion but, frankly, the EFL is owed nothing by the Premier League - and if they are to part with what is effectively 'bail out money' to those clubs lower down the pyramid, they're well within their rights to want something in return. The accusations of a 'power grab' being made over 'Project Big Picture' is ridiculous because they could easily not offer anything!

The biggest culprits in not helping out the EFL is the Government!

I can see the rationale why, in some respects, they don't want to provide a 'bail out' like they have done for some other sports or even clubs in the National League who've received financial support.

But the fact is simple. Every club in the EFL has been forced to play behind-closed-doors based due to Government legislation and its resulted in income being lost which has swelled overall 'operating losses' - primarily through a lack of gate receipts.

Despite all the talk, no financial help has been forthcoming - even after the £300M 'bail out' for other sports was confirmed yesterday, so how the hell can the Government tell the Premier League they must help, when it's their restrictions (imposed rightly or wrongly) which has caused the financial worries/problems?

Amongst the 72 clubs in the EFL, there are many different types of owners. There are those who'll passionately throw every penny they've got at their football club, out of love. There are those who'll run a tight ship and call it 'prudence' as they live within their means. There are others who own clubs purely for their own ego so they can show it off to their cronies. There are those who'll see owning a football club as an investment opportunity.

The KC Stadium: Hull City.

I certainly wouldn't trust every word a football club says. I've seen too many egos, heard too many things from behind-the-scenes at clubs and I'm far too long in the tooth to take anything that's said at face-value - after all, would anyone trust a word spoken by someone like Steve Dale (the chairman who got Bury FC booted out the EFL only last year)?

Amongst the many EFL clubs, some will have viewed the pandemic as an excuse to cut costs or get rid of faces which don't fit within their organisation or pleaded poverty because the wealthy owner(s) are tight. Others will want 'financial help' so they don't have to invest as much. But, somewhere, there will be some genuine cases - quite possibly fan-run clubs who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet and wondering where the next pennies are coming from. 

If you help one club, you've got to help them all, but this Government is simply helping nobody and I find it utterly disgraceful that they've pinned responsibility on the Premier League to do so. Oliver Dowden, the minister for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been totally useless when it's come to helping football clubs through this pandemic.

Whilst I actually agree with a Government statement a few months ago that clubs need to find creative ways to generate income during the crisis; naturally some will be better at it than others. The 'salary cap' introduced in the summer for those in League One and League Two is also another positive step in the long-term which should help to address clubs' bank balances - even though flaws and loop-holes will inevitably get found and exposed at some stage as that's just the nature of the football industry. It also does nothing to help Championship clubs, nevertheless, when many of them have been a financial 'ticking time bomb' for several years already!

Fans pack out the Kassam Stadium... and a new era is now definitely upon us!

If the Premier League want to make what is perceived as a 'power grab' in return for a bail out, they're entitled to and I'd support them 100% in wanting that.

Again though, why the burden should fall on them when the Government haven't offered any financial support and have caused losses through their 'no fans' restrictions? It's flabbergasting and scandalous - so much so that I'd love to hear what the Supreme Court has to say about it, and it's something which needs to be scrutinised a hell of a lot more than it has been done. 

The same football fans who are quick to 'nay-say' and point fingers at the Premier League for ruining that so-called 'beautiful' game - and will do so if/when some club calls in the administrators because they can't financially cope any longer, need to remember that the Government have abandoned EFL clubs.

My hope is that fact is remembered, particularly, when it comes to the next General Election!

Reflections on the YTs season to date...

Ahead of a hectic schedule where Doncaster Rovers' Under 18s will play four successive away games, now seems an appropriate time to give some considered thoughts on the season so far.

I don't know yet if I'll be present at any of the upcoming games (thanks Boris!) but the busy schedule begins this Wednesday (18th November) with an eagerly-awaited FA Youth Cup Second Round tie against Hull City which takes place behind-closed-doors at the KCOM Stadium, before visits to Rotherham United (21st November) and Grimsby Town (24th November) in the Football League Youth Alliance.

The 'must win' cup visit to Bolton Wanderers has been re-arranged for Tuesday 1st December.

The upcoming schedule contrasts greatly with the campaign up to now as it's been 'stop-start' to say the least with long gaps between some fixtures. Results have been as follows:

12th Sep: Scunthorpe United (a) - L 0-1

19th Sep: Lincoln City (H) - L 0-1

3rd Oct: Huddersfield Town (a) - W 2-1

28th Oct: Preston North End (H) - D 2-2 - YAC

31st Oct: Notts County (a) - W 2-1

4th Nov: Coventry Sphinx (a) - W 2-1 - FAYC

10th Nov: Burton Albion (H) - L 1-2

Based on what I've seen, the improvement on the opening two performances of the season against Scunthorpe and Lincoln has been considerable - even if the latest defeat to Burton was a disappointment where the lads didn't do themselves any favours.

After the defeat to Lincoln in September, I thought it may be a long year ahead whereas now there are some positives to talk about amongst the other areas where work is still needed.

Undoubtedly the best showing to date was against Preston in the Youth Alliance Cup - though a combination of missed chances and decent opposition goalkeeping meant it ended in a 2-2 draw and not what should have been a deserved win. The lads retained the ball extremely well, moved it about effectively, posed a threat and caused all sorts of problems against a PNE team containing some good players who've competed at the top of the North-West Division for the past couple of seasons.

Without any question, it was the benchmark performance where several things came together, and it's something as a team that the lads have to try and emulate every week now.

Results-wise, there's been some good ones. A technically-gifted Huddersfield were beaten in difficult weather conditions simply because the lads showed more desire than those they were up against, whilst they responded well after going 1-0 behind at Notts County. A challenging trip to Coventry Sphinx (and all the trials/tribulations that game brought with it), was a successful one, too, and although it wasn't pretty at the best of times, the performance was enough.

Credit has to be given for the general improvement though, as to be expected in youth football, there's still a long way to go in some respects and areas where more effective work is vital.

Areas for concern at the moment include the fact that, collectively, the team have started slowly in the majority of outings. 

Against Lincoln, the visitors' goal came early on. At Huddersfield, the lads were second best during the half-hour period before Owan Derrett scored the opening goal. Against Preston, it was the opposition who began on the front foot and set the early tempo until the lads wrestled their way back into things. At Coventry, the non-league side could have scored inside the first couple of minutes due to a defensive lapse.

The 'slow starts' have become less noticeable in recent games, but there's still a need to set a precedent from the very first minute, dictate the early pace and not allow the opposition to do it.

Furthermore, in quite a few games, too many good chances have gone begging. For example, against Preston, it ended in a draw because too many good opportunities were created and not converted. It was a similar tale in last week's defeat to Burton. Delving slightly further back, the pre-season clash with Chesterfield was end-to-end and goalless until Luca Nelson scored a late penalty but the result could easily have gone either way.

Sometimes the lads have been denied through good goalkeeping - and when that happens it's fair enough because at least chances are being put on target. However, this hasn't always been the case and there remains a definite need to be more ruthless in attack and this is an area where improvement is necessary.

Whilst it's easy to be critical of those on the front-line who haven't got a greater goals return, nevertheless, statistics don't lie and in competitive games the lads haven't actually kept a 'proper' clean-sheet yet so far this season. In open play, dealing with things through the middle they've been relatively solid, but the vast majority of the goals conceded (from memory) have come either from wide areas or set-pieces. Though I've not seen any statistics to back up this point, the majority of goalscoring chances for the opposition seem to have come from the same areas as well. Not ensuring a defensive shut-out means the strikers need to score at least twice per game in order to have a chance of winning and that's something which simply isn't always going to happen!

The 'mixed' performances have sometimes been overshadowed by good results and in reflection, as stated already, there's been progress in some areas though their remains food for thought and work to do in others areas.

There are my thoughts on individual players, to date:

Ben Bottomley - A second-year 'keeper who is shouting even more nowadays (so that's a lot!), and continuously demands high standards from his team-mates. Has pretty much eradicated the errors which had people sometimes concerned last year and has produced some good individual displays including a 'Man Of The Match' showing in the win at Huddersfield. Will only get better with experience and won't take any prisoners whatsoever on the pitch.

Luke Chadwick - Someone whose game-time has been restricted up to now. Had some wobbly moments in the recent friendly with Chesterfield and also one against Burton with his handling, but it's no major concern as I saw enough from him last year to know he's a capable 'keeper. Possesses a big frame and will definitely feature more at some point - whether that be later this season or in the second year of his scholarship in 2021/22.

Tom Henson - An energetic first-year who has had more minutes than anyone else in his year group and has made the right-back position his own. Has shown good fitness levels and consistency. Got a quality assist at Notts County with a driving which highlighted his attacking qualities, though there are areas for improvement in his defensive game as some of the goals conceded could be attributed to crosses not being blocked/stopped from his side. Apart from that and overall, I'm confident he'll improve more as time passes as he'll almost certainly get the game-time/experience.

Max Jemson - Played in every game up to Coventry where he sustained a hamstring injury. Offers an aerial presence given that he's the tallest lad in the squad (by some distance) but occasionally lets opponents get goal-side of him which is a worry. If he can sort that out then with his other attributes, he'll become a better player. Looks more relaxed and composed compared to this time last year and is also more vocal nowadays. Came out with a great 'one-liner' during his last appearance!

Josh Clemitson - It's been refreshing to see his progress over the last few months. Despite being a peripheral figure last year when his versatility sometimes went against him, he's now established himself as one of the main players in the side at centre-back. Scored a brilliant solo effort in the win at Huddersfield (nominated for LFE's 'Goal of the Month') which is testament to his improvement. Is also more vocal in comparison to last year and would probably win the award for 'Most Improved' if such a thing existed!

Michael Nesbitt - A centre-back who'd probably have seen more action had it not been for injury. Has made an impression on me up to now, demonstrating good defensive skills more often than not, whilst the yellow card at Notts County also showed there's a likeable 'edge' to his game. Only a first-year so will get physically stronger and tougher over time and once he's filled out, he should be solid option at the heart of the defence - so long as he can avoid injuries.

Lewis Cunningham - A left-back who started pre-season with a flourish, is vocal and has emerged as something of a natural leader within the team. His offensive link-up play is decent - especially the floated balls down the channel which are always of a high quality. His defensive capabilities have been challenged quite a bit over the course of his last three outings with varied success. Once he's developed his upper body presence, he'll be in a great position to cope with the rigours of men's football.

Ethan Bojang - The oldest player in the squad and also the skipper. Capable of playing in a variety of positions but has figured mostly in centre-midfield, occasionally filling in at centre-back. Was out injured for the vast majority of last season and his form has been mixed since returning. Needs a big individual performance to use as a springboard to 'kick on' from in order to get back to the very high standards he was showing at the start of the last season. A bandaged head meant he missed the last quarter-hour of the last game.

Charlie Bell - Always tenacious, always 'ratty' and someone who'll always work hard and give maximum effort. Not afraid of a tackle. Has improved this year and grown in confidence after a mixed 2019/20 and put in the best performance of his scholarship so far against Chesterfield, where he hit the crossbar, then followed it up with a typically dogged display against Preston. Was injured at Coventry and subsequently wasn't available against Burton where his attributes were missed by his team-mates.

Will Hollings - A talented midfielder who, in pieces, has shown his potential though he's yet to completely dominate a game. Came on at Coventry and initially made a difference with his good passing and technical ability. Isn't afraid to take shots on from outside the area (a good thing!) and has been unfortunate not to score during the past couple of games. Effectively gave away the goal against Burton - it happens, but with confidence and self-belief, he could emerge as a key player in the team. Still a first-year scholar so time is on his side right now.

Dan Wilds - A defensive-minded player who has been in and out of the line-up. Yet to produce a fully commanding performance, largely due to his limited game-time, but his tenaciousness, stature and a few other attributes means he's someone I'm looking forward to seeing more from over the remaining year-and-a-half of his scholarship.

Tavonga Kuleya - A quick, first-year wide-man who has shown snippets of what he can do though he's primarily featured as a substitute. Boasts rapid pace, is very direct and made an impact at Notts County when he came on - even if he should have squared a simple pass to release a team-mate in one counter-attacking move. Similar to Dan Wilds, I'd like to see him get a run of games at some point to further understand his capabilities.

Corie Cole - Diminutive playmaker with great technical awareness and ability who'll often float around just behind the front two. Was outstanding in that role against Preston, linking things up to a high standard, and needs to try and emulate that display every week. Hasn't vastly impacted the last three games - drifting in and out of the action too much, though he was on the score-sheet at Notts County - even if it was from 0.01 millimetres out! Great potential and only a first-year, so has time to develop and improve. Reminds me, ever so slightly, of a young Tom Owen-Evans.

Luca Nelson - A second-year who'll constantly graft, work hard and battle for the cause. Also possessing a deceptively quick turn of pace, he's been an ever-present to date and has weighed in with his fair share of goals including two at Coventry and one which was testament to his endeavour against PNE. Would probably liked to have bagged a few more but his all-round game is stronger now than 12 months ago which is a positive.

Owan Derrett - The fastest player in the squad whose lightening-quick pace caused Preston all manner of problem in his best showing of the campaign. Produced a composed one-on-one finish in the win at Huddersfield and has scored other goals but could have been more prolific as some chances haven't been put away. If him and Luca Nelson can develop a stronger understanding, more goals will surely flow. In the second year of his scholarship at the club.

Alex Wolny - A first-year forward who scored a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in pre-season and also got an injury-time winner at Notts County the other week. His presence, power and pace means he's a real handful and he isn't afraid to take shots on when he catches a genuine sight of goal. Should have scored at least once against Burton last time out, but it wasn't to be. Has largely been used as a substitute, to date, but will feature more at some stage as he's only a first-year scholar. One to keep an eye on in the future. 

Overall, looking at the squad as a collective, it's evident that confidence is a key thing with some more than others. Therefore, it's important everyone remembers they've earned the right and have enough talent to be a part of this squad and that they're all good enough to be competing at an 'elite' youth level.

All the lads have talent and have something to offer!

As is only natural, the ultimate aim is to earn a professional contract though the reality is that it's not going to happen for everyone. Considering how the pandemic has already affected Doncaster Rovers with the scrapping of the Under 23s last summer (a decision which I'll never agree with), plus the upheaval in how last season finished and how this season has felt very different in comparison due to the various restrictions, it's been an even tougher and more challenging time than would usually be the case.

My message, similar to what it was at the start of the season is to just go out, try and enjoy every game, enjoy even more the day-to-day stuff such as interacting with team-mates and having 'banter' travelling to away games, etc, and crucially, don't put too much pressure on yourselves.

There's going to be highs and lows aplenty over the course of any football season along with several 'uncontrollable' and 'unpredictable' things such as the impact of the pandemic. The only requirement I'd ask is that every player always gives 100% effort and commitment - primarily to ensure you aren't left with any self-regrets when it comes to 'decision time' regarding professional contracts.

You never know what a positive impression left on someone could lead to in the long-term and/or who is watching whatever game you might be playing in. Every game is an opportunity to impress and produce that one, outstanding performance which can elevate you into the consciousness of those who'll then present you with further opportunities.