Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-4 Scunthorpe United (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 2-4 Scunthorpe United (U18s)
Football League Youth Alliance
Saturday 9th January 2021

Having now viewed footage from the recent Under 18s game against Scunthorpe United, it could best be described as a mixed/inconsistent performance which the lads in Doncaster Rovers shirts produced in their first run-out since the turn of the year.

Despite some missed chances during what appeared to be a really positive first 30 minutes or so, Alex Wolny fired Rovers into a deserved lead close to the half-hour mark but it was a lead which didn't last very long as Harry Lewis capitalised on some hesitant defending to equalise for the visitors - meaning it was 1-1 by the interval.

Scunny, who sit at the top of the Football League Youth Alliance table, then dictated much of the play during the second half and snatched maximum points with three goals during a frenetic final five minutes; Jack Moore-Billam, Cameron Wilson (who was really effective) and Charlie Strouther on the score-sheet with a Lewis Cunningham goal for DRFC sandwiched in-between when it was 3-1.

Rovers' late defensive collapse is undoubtedly the biggest cause for concern - especially if you consider the lads are still yet to register a clean-sheet in any competitive clash this season. The defending for some of the goals conceded just wasn't good enough and although Scunthorpe rode their luck at times, particularly during the period when the game was goalless, on the overall balance of play there can't have been too many complaints about the result come the final whistle. 

Focusing on the positives from a DRFC perspective, three players from the Under 16s squad stepped up to play in the youth team for the first time, full-backs Tom Henson and Cunningham (whose goal was actually his first in a DRFC shirt) put in decent displays whilst Tavonga Kuleya was noticeable from the footage as he was lively, tricky and seemed to cause problems for much of the game.

Due to the freezing overnight weather, the game was played on the 4G pitch in the Sports Complex adjacent to the Keepmoat Stadium and it was probably a good job there were no spectators as temperatures must have been -1 or -2 at least.

In the early stages, Rovers were quickest out the traps with Alex Wolny and Luca Nelson having chances - the former clipping the post with a deft header on around the quarter-hour mark, whilst Charlie Bell also went close with a speculative attempt not too long afterwards.

Eventually, a lead was established through Wolny who rifled a low drive across the 'keeper with aplomb from inside the area on the back of some good midfield play by Will Hollings.

Strangely, the positives in Rovers' display suddenly vanished and instead they became a bit too sloppy and careless in possession - not retaining the ball well enough, and it allowed Scunthorpe, who'd also squandered a good opening at 0-0, to begin to dominate.

Ben Bottomley had already saved a stinging 20-yard shot from the edge of the area, but there was nothing the 'keeper could do when the Donny defence practised 'social distancing measures' only moments later - backing off, backing off and backing off even more after losing the ball close to the halfway line. It thus allowed Harry Lewis (on his birthday) to carry the ball a great distance before he unleashed a shot and made it 1-1. Fair play to him! The Iron youngster then had another attempt just before the half-time break which went just over the upright.

After some substitutions at half-time - including the introduction of a couple of Under 16s players whose season up to now has been hampered even more than the Under 18s, Rovers initially looked bright again for around a 10-15 minute spell, but it didn't last as the visitors eventually began to establish a foothold and dictate the midfield battle.

More opportunities came and went, though they were mainly for the visitors, as Moore-Billam forced a near-post save midway through the half and Wilson did likewise shortly afterwards. Luke Chadwick, who came on as a substitute - replacing Bottomley between the sticks, was kept busy and he pulled off another stop with around eight minutes to go as he was at full-stretch to keep out Lewis' attempted chip.

The floodgates then opened to devastating effect in the dying embers of proceedings. 

In a goal which bore some hallmarks to the hesitant defending which had led to the earlier equaliser, Moore-Taylor drove through, beat a couple of players and produced an emphatic low finish to make it 2-1. Further damage was then done almost immediately as Rovers lost the ball from the re-start, culminating in Wilson receiving possession midway inside his opponents' half, getting the better of Max Jemson in a one-on-one scenario, before also finding the target with a powerful drive.

The lads immediately responded themselves with Cunningham being the unlikely scorer with a left-foot finish from the edge of the area but any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed straight down at the other end of the pitch as Strouther got on the end of Wilson's cross and slotted beyond Chadwick to complete the scoring and earn Scunny a 4-2 win.

Overall, the poor defending wasn't good enough and my opinion is that at least a couple of the goals were preventable. Better positioning, firmer defending and not being afraid to put a tackle in - as opposed to letting opponents get a run at/across you, would have helped, but it's a learning curve. The trio of Under 16s who featured will no doubt have gained plenty from the experience and they'll be hopeful of receiving more game-time and opportunities in the coming weeks.

With the FA Youth Cup Third Round tie at Peterborough United now postponed for the foreseeable future due to Covid-19 restrictions, the next scheduled game (at present) for the Under 18s is away to Bradford City on Saturday 23rd January.