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

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

Football League Youth Alliance

Saturday 20th February 2021

Having seen the footage from this weekend's youth team fixture against Rotherham United, here are some articulated thoughts on what unfolded...

It's been a trait that youth team matches have contained plenty of goals in recent weeks and this encounter was no different as Doncaster Rovers produced one of their better performances this season to brush aside local rivals Rotherham United.

The illustrious A.Trialist (more on him further down this piece) bagged two goals, whilst Alex Wolny and Owan Derrett got on the score-sheet as Rovers twice came from behind to get the win.

By the final whistle, there were several positives. Lewis Cunningham, continuing to stand in as skipper in Ethan Bojang's absence, maintained his fine form with two more assists - meaning he's now claimed nine assists in just six matches in 2021. Liam Ravenhill also got a full 90 minutes under his belt and featured for just the second time in the Football League Youth Alliance this season, whilst Charlie Bell put in another effective performance - again underlining his improvement over the course of the campaign.

The trialists who started - one at centre-back, one in midfield and one in attacks, also impressed. The lads grew into the game as a collective unit, became more confident as each minute passed and by the full-time whistle, they were deserving winners.

There are still some areas for improvement; individual mistakes led to a couple of the goals, communication during the first 45 minutes could have been better on occasions and they still haven't kept a clean-sheet this season as a team - something which remains a 'bug bear'.

But on the whole it was decent. The only thing which overshadowed the win was an injury to Michael Nesbitt who needed lengthy treatment following an aerial collision with Rotherham's big frontman midway through the second half. Fingers crossed that he'll be okay in the long run!

As is usually the case when you come up against Rotherham, you know exactly what you're going to get - a big, physical, strong, direct outfit with pretty much every lad over six feet in height. Their style won't suit everyone and it isn't the prettiest football to watch by any means, but they've achieved results over quite a few a seasons now, have a definite blueprint/philosophy, and always acquire the personnel to play to their preferred style. Fair play to them, in many ways, because they always pose a challenge and meetings with them are always tough, competitive and a good learning curve.

The Millers got things underway on the 4G pitch adjacent to the Keepmoat Stadium and felt they should have been awarded a penalty within the opening 60 seconds when one of their players went down under a tackle on the byline inside the area. It looked contentious; my instinctive reaction on viewing the footage was that it could well have been a spot-kick, but the referee was unmoved and allowed play to continue.

Following a three-minute stoppage whilst a Rotherham player received treatment for a very early knock (incidentally, this was the first of about five stoppages during the game - and separate to Michael Nesbitt's injury where he was down for much longer), Rovers began to force the issue and create some pressure of their own.

Around 20 minutes in, Alex Wolny thought he'd opened the scoring when he found space between the two centre-halves, turned and drove a low shot into the bottom corner from a central position just inside the penalty area but he was judged to have been narrowly offside. It was close (very close!) though probably the correct decision from the linesman.

The same linesman's flag prevented a couple of further attacks as Doncaster enjoyed as much territorial pressure as their opponents, whilst A.Trialist came off second in a foot race with the Millers' 'keeper, who rushed from his line to get to the ball ahead first, when otherwise he'd have been clean through following some clever, intricate build-up play and an attempted through ball by Tom Henson.

On 22 minutes, the visitors got the opener and it was in typically frustrating fashion from a DRFC perspective. 

A direct ball forward should have been dealt with much better than it was. Instead, it dropped in the empty space between the defender and 'keeper, inside the area, and fortuitously so for Rotherham's attacker who'd peeled off the shoulder and emphatically blasted his shot beyond Luke Chadwick into the net. 

It was a lack of communication, in all honesty, which proved costly; a preventable goal, sloppy, frustrating, but it happens sometimes and at least the lads responded well to going behind.

Whilst the visitors, playing in their grey away kit, had their tails up and were definitely frustrating Rovers, they weren't ultimately able to hold out because an equaliser came around 5-10 minutes before the interval thanks to a very well-worked, set-piece strike.

After a free-kick was awarded in a central position about 30 yards from the target, Lewis Cunningham and Liam Ravenhill both stood over the ball. A shot seemed probable but, instead, Cunningham threaded an intricate low pass towards A.Trialist who was unmarked on the edge of the box. The striker turned exquisitely and unleashed an accurate low drive into the bottom corner beyond a full-stretch 'keeper for what was a very, very fine equaliser. 1-1.

Rovers' team talk at the interval would no doubt have been to impose their fluid, passing style of play on Rotherham to much better effect - the first half had been okay, in some parts, though there was still plenty of scope for improvement.

However, a set-back quickly occurred when Nesbitt's attempted ball inside from his right centre-back position was much too short and picked up by an opponent. A.Trialist (the centre-back) clattered into the Rotherham player now in possession in a desperate attempt to win the ball back and both players were down on the deck as the ball ricocheted to another player in a grey shirt who struck a low drive into the same bottom corner where the equaliser had been scored just before half-time.

It was another individual mistake which had proved costly - again, it was undeniable and, again, Rovers had work to do if they wanted to get anything from the contest. But it was work they did do!

Thankfully, the scoreline didn't stay in Rotherham's favour for very long as almost immediately after the latest re-start in play, the lads carved out another very good equaliser - exposing flaws in their opponents' backline. 

Cunningham, such an instrumental figure in recent weeks, was yet again the man who produced the kind of quality which 'Merlin the Magician' would have been proud about. His wand of a left-foot this time delivered a piercing low cross from high up on the left flank and the ball flew across the six-yard box towards the far-post where Wolny had the simplest of finishes from close-range to level things up. 2-2.

With well over half-an-hour still to play, the game was very much in the balance and it would now be a case of which team could take hold of things to get the points.

Rovers were knocking the ball about with great confidence as the hour mark passed with Ravenhill starting to pull the strings in midfield and A.Trialist was only denied what would have been a second goal, this time from an acute angle, due to an excellent save by the visiting 'keeper who read the danger.

This happened a few minutes before a lengthy stoppage for an injury where Nesbitt caught a knock during an aerial duel with Rotherham's target man. He immediately went down in pain and received lengthy treatment before gingerly getting back to his feet, with the help of others, after several minutes. It's not right to speculate on the extent of the injury, but it certainly didn't look nice and one can only wish him well in his recovery - with the hope that there's no lasting damage and he won't miss too many games!

Dan Wilds replaced Nesbitt and thereafter, Rovers really grasped the initiative, got the grit between their teeth, and put Rotherham to the sword - dominating the final 20 minutes thanks to some excellent football which was too much to handle.

A third goal arrived with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining and it was from another set-piece; awarded after a foul on the outside edge of the box high up on the left flank. 

Once again, Cunningham and Ravenhill stood over the ball but this time it was Ravenhill's right-foot delivery which caused problems. He floated it towards the back-post area and although Rotherham's defensive backline towered above the attackers, their marking was shabby and the ball was bundled over the line via the shoulder of A.Trialist.

Now 3-2 up Rovers pressed for more rewards and around five minutes later, the visiting 'keeper could have done with a shoulder to cry on as he endured the type of moment which might cause him to have nightmares - conceding the fourth goal which, effectively, wrapped up the points!

Owan Derrett, who'd just been brought on to replace Wolny, used his blistering pace to full effect and though the angle was against him as he cut inside from the byline, his subsequent low effort went through the 'keepers legs, where it caught a deflection, and ended up in the back of the net. It had shades of an own goal but I'm sure the Millers 'keeper won't be wanting to claim he was nutmegged.

The tireless A.Trialist wasn't able to complete his hat-trick because he was replaced by the fresh legs of Tavonga Kuleya for the final few minutes and ultimately, there were no further goals but it was a good, pleasing and satisfying win with a decent performance to boot.

Though I never like to form an opinion of players on just one showing, A.Trialist (whose name I know and have checked out online) certainly has something about him and it's no surprise that he's already created headlines by scoring a bagful in a game for his parent club, who compete in non-league, earlier this season. He's aged 18 already so would be ineligible for the youth team next year anyway but, irrespective of that or whether he actually appears again, he's certainly got something about him. Whether it be leading the line, to scoring his goals, to his touch, movement and technique, he was excellent, and absolutely fair play to him because you can only appreciate and admire the sort of performance which he produced.

As touched on already, there were other pleasing parts. The 'No.7' trialist in midfield, the younger lad, was technical and creative and would be a good addition going forward - certainly to play in another game at least anyway, whilst some of the lads already on scholarships performed well.

Liam Ravenhill was instrumental in the second half and pretty much everything went through him; Lewis Cunningham once more showed why he'd be phenomenal in Customer Services because he's always providing ASSIST-ance (sorry, terrible joke - I'll try better next time!) and Charlie Bell again put a shift in - the best compliment I can pay to him is that if you compare this performance against one from six months ago, the improvement is notable and he's becoming a key player. Keep it up pal!

Of the first-year scholars, Alex Wolny took his goal well, had one disallowed, performed well, and has definitely 'filled out' to some extent and boasts a threatening presence - all in all, it makes me hope that he can be every bit a regular goalscorer and the main striker next term. Corie Cole was involved in bits and pieces and hopefully he can keep that up.

Compared to three weeks ago - the 1-0 defeat to Grimsby Town which was the third loss on the spin, the lads have definitely turned things around and there's plenty to be positive and optimistic about.

Next up is a home meeting against top of the table Notts County (who, regrettably, may have to close their academy if they don't get promoted this season) in a couple of weeks time. That clash precedes two games with Mansfield Town (always fun!) and a trip to Bradford City - all games which are scheduled to take place before the end of next month.