Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 4-2 Bradford City (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 4-2 Bradford City (U18s)

Football League Youth Alliance

Saturday 10th April 2021

Some thoughts on this weekend's game at the Keepmoat Stadium having viewed the footage!

A first half display full of energy, effort and ruthless efficiency was enough for Doncaster Rovers youth team to achieve a confidence-boosting 4-2 win over Bradford City in the Football League Youth Alliance.

On a bizarre morning of sunshine, showers and snowstorms - some of which even occurred at the same time, the goals flowed finely for Rovers who wasted no time in establishing a lead thanks to Will Hollings' first goal of the campaign before Alex Fletcher soon made it 2-0 with a well-placed finish.

Dan Wilds then converted a spot-kick on the half-hour mark and, remarkably, it was 4-0 by the midway point as a visiting defender inadvertently put through his own net whilst attempting to defend a set-piece.

In spite of the eyebrow-raising scoreline, Bradford actually put in a decent enough display in bits and pieces. They totally dominated the second period, using an extra man in midfield exceptionally well to build up a head of steam and deservedly pull back a couple of goals.

Nevertheless, Rovers' ruthless finishing in the first 45 minutes was the key difference and this is something which can hopefully be continued in the remaining two Youth Alliance games this term against Huddersfield (next time out) and Mansfield (in three weeks).

For a variety of reasons it was a very youthful Donny starting line-up with Charlie Bell, named as skipper, being the only second-year included in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Three players from the Under 16s were involved; Alex Fletcher, Jack Raper and Tom Parkinson, whilst Luke Chadwick returned between the posts having missed the past couple of matches.

Tavonga Kuleya, who suffered a nasty-looking injury after only a few minutes of last week's goalless draw with Lincoln City, wasn't involved.

Though the Doncaster skipper didn't sport the armband because his arms were too big for it to fit (allegedly!), it's fair to say 'Charlie [Bell]'s Angels' were fantastic in the early exchanges as they came flying out the traps and imposed their game-plan to great effect.

Within the first few minutes they had only been denied an opener because Bradford's highly-rated England youth 'keeper Darryl Ombang pulled off a full-stretch fingertip save from Will Hollings powerful 20-yard attempt which seemed destined for the top corner. It was a perfect strike but an even better save and having not yet scored this season, the creative Hollings could have been forgiven for wondering if the ball was ever going to end up in the net for him.

The midfielder put in a solid and impressive showing last time out at Lincoln and in Rovers' very next attack he finally enjoyed that big moment of becoming a goalscorer. He showed instinctive reactions to dispossess a Bantams defender who'd just received the ball on the edge of the area before unleashing a firm low strike into the bottom corner which was too much for Ombang to keep out.

With a breakthrough made and confidence evidently high right the way across the team, there was an air of fluidity and rhythm about Rovers' style, movement and overall play and within just a couple of minutes they'd doubled their advantage thanks to a goal by a relative newcomer.

Alex Fletcher hasn't yet begun his scholarship but the nifty right-back who possesses an abundance of talent showed flair to finish off another attack as he was in the perfect place at the perfect time on the edge of the box to drill a shot home following some decent strength and hold-up play by the evergreen Alex Wolny who was also enjoying a fine morning.

It's quite often been a trait in games this term that Rovers either haven't imposed themselves particularly well in the early stages which has brought about problems or they haven't taken opportunities when they've created them, so this was a refreshing, positive and uplifting change from the usual.

Bradford though weren't about to roll over and asked some questions of the home defence without properly forcing the returning Chadwick into action. At one stage whilst under pressure, Michael Nesbitt made a key interception and in a separate incident fellow centre-back Bobby Faulkner was left with a bloodied nose following a collision with an opponent. 

Both teams looked decent and creative in possession as they moved the ball well and demonstrated the potential to pose problems but the key difference was ruthlessness going forward. Rovers were superior in this department and they were soon presented with a chance when Wolny was judged to have been fouled inside the box. The Bantams felt the decision was harsh though Wilds didn't look flustered whatsoever as he stepped up and sent Ombang the wrong way to make it 3-0 before the half-hour mark.

Incredibly, things then got even better for Rovers from a set-piece routine. Raper's delivery into the box was met with a powerful connection, albeit from a Bantams defender, and with the 'keeper rooted to his goal-line the ball flew into the top corner to give the scoreline an even more emphatic look.

Bradford might have felt disheartened at this point because although they'd been out-played and out-battled in some crucial areas, going forward they'd posed questions.

Their best opening came close to half-time when some neat and tidy play, followed by a clever cut-back inside the Donny area saw the ball reach an unmarked striker. His emphatic shot would have reduced arrears had it not ricocheted off Chadwick's chest with the 'keeper alert to the danger and having rushed from his line in a deliberate attempt to narrow the angle.

At the opposite end, in what was more or less the last goalmouth action of the first 45 minutes, Parkinson should have registered his name on the score-sheet to put Rovers 5-0 up. He was the beneficiary of another mix up in the visitors' backline and ended up in a one-on-one scenario though, under pressure and with the 'keeper advancing, his low stab-shot trickled the wrong side of the post.

The second half saw Bradford assert their authority and dominate proceedings as they sought to produce the unlikeliest of comebacks and they went close to pulling a goal back within 20 seconds when an attempt rattled the upright. Rovers, it has to be said, were pretty static in this move.

There was a positive zest, urgency and good attitude within the Bantams' second half play; dictating the midfield battle by virtue of an extra man and spending large swathes of time camped inside their opponents half. Their footballing intelligence meant they posed a dangerous threat and Chadwick was soon tested again from a near-post shot when a better option would have been to either play the ball across a packed goalmouth or go for the far-post.

Rovers defensive shape, on the whole, wasn't bad which meant despite Bradford's superior possession, the visitors were restricted mainly to long-range attempts - those of which were on target proving to be comfortable enough for Chadwick. It was from one of these instances, however, that Bell's time on the pitch came to a premature end; the captain being poleaxed by a venomous strike which hit him fully in the face from only a few feet away.

Wolny was also the recipient of a yellow card, having been deemed to have held onto the ball for too long amidst a mini-melee, as Donny sought to protect their four-goal advantage.

It seemed that Bradford might never make a breakthrough - especially when one of their frontman got in-behind and beat Chadwick with his attempt only for the fully-alert Nesbitt to make not just one, but two superb recovery clearances on the goal-line to protect the clean-sheet.

With around 20-25 minutes remaining on the clock, the West Yorkshire team finally turned their wastefulness infront of goal into something better as they made a deserved enough breakthrough. A powerful shot was saved by Chadwick at his left-hand post but the ball spun away from his clutches and allowed the striker the simplest of finishes from just a matter of millimetres out - giving the visitors hope that they could find a route back into proceedings!

It was evident that Bradford, whose line-up included a mixture of players from across the age groups from Under 16s upwards, possessed some talented individuals with decent ability. They soon further reduced arrears from a set-piece as a corner from the right was put high towards the back-post and a towering headed connection was precise, perfect and ended up in the back of the net for 4-2 - this with a quarter of an hour of the game remaining!

The contest was quickly becoming a challenge of Rovers' capabilities - both mental and physical. Focus, calmness, game-management and intelligence were required from this point to ensure they got the result and hold out against waves of territorial pressure from a Bradford side who were knocking the ball around in a neat but very determined fashion given they had the momentum.

Thankfully, those in red and white hoops 'dug in' sufficiently and showed the attributes to get the job done!

The Bantams were restricted again to largely speculative attempts in the time which remained with Rovers actually creating the best chance on a rare breakaway when Hollings went close to registering his second goal of the morning with a half-volley which was deflected over the woodwork.

Overall, the scoreline was a fair reflection of what unfolded. Doncaster's play in the first 45 minutes was a joy to behold from the ruthlessness shown in goalscoring situations to the way the lads were alert and ready to pounce at the slightest mistake. There was a great, energy, desire and positive attitude shown. Some aspects still require room for improvement - such as transitional periods and tracking, pressing and general focus when not in possession but if these areas can be nailed down and requirements by players in every position can be understood (both in and out of possession), there's no reason why the lads can't finish this season in positive form and enjoy a decent campaign in 2021/22. Make no mistake, this was the best team performance, overall, in the past few weeks and should be a benchmark to 'kick on' from and it was a good result against a good team!

From a Bradford perspective, they'll be left ruing the missed chances and defensive errors which contributed to some of the four goals they conceded. Whilst they were the better team in the second period, had either of their chances (just before and just after half-time) gone in, they might well have set-up a nerve-jangling finish where Rovers would have been clinging on - instead, the deficit was just too much! Nevertheless, the way they expressed themselves on the ball, executed their game-plan in the second half and used the extra man in midfield to their advantage, deserves praise. Based on certain aspects of this performance and also how they've achieved some good results in the second part of the Youth Alliance season, they'll no doubt be a force to be reckoned with next term. 

If more or less the same players from both teams meet again next season when they've got more experience under their belts, it should be another decent and interesting game.

Individually, there were some pleasing performances by those in Rovers colours.

Alex Wolny's link-up play, touch and technique (especially early on) was the best it's been for a while and if he can take that into next year, along with his natural strength and power, then there's a very good player within him who has the potential to have a key effect on things. Generally, the ball sticks well when it goes to him and that can be worth its weight in gold.

Will Hollings' first strike has been a long time coming but thoroughly deserved on the back of one or two recent displays and the hope now is that he can glean confidence from it, express his ability and use it as a springboard to finish the season on a high.

Elsewhere, the defensive trio of Dan Wilds, Michael Nesbitt and Bobby Faulkner (a good old-fashioned centre-back in more ways than one - especially with some of the football-related injuries he's received over the past eight months) deserve praise. Wilds' marshalling and organisation before he moved into midfield after Charlie Bell got poleaxed was good. Nesbitt - returning to the team for the first time in a while, offered value - especially with a couple of good interceptions and his goal-line clearances, whilst the way Faulkner has stepped into the team and not looked out of place in recent weeks, has been admirable.

Some of the younger lads who featured who'll be scholars next year (and apologies for not mentioning the names of the substitutes - that's because I don't have them yet!) did well. Of those who started, Tom Parkinson might feel as though he should have scored a goal but he's shown promise recently - whether it be last time out at Lincoln, with a predatory finish in midweek when he mugged a defender against Sheffield United, or in a recent game against Hull City. His progress will be interesting to watch close-up next year.

Alex Fletcher put in a good shift, took his goal well and offers plenty of energy - clearly from an attacking viewpoint as well as a defensive one, whilst there's similarities already between the technical ability possessed by Jack Raper and that of Will McGowan - someone who was absolutely instrumental in last season's title success. With more games, more experience and day to day full-time coaching especially, he'll only become an even better player so, very much like Tom Parkinson, his progress will be good to track.

So there were lots of positives and pleasing aspects about what unfolded and next up for the lads is an away game on the lush green grass of Huddersfield Town's fantastic Canalside Training HQ - with Rovers away at the Terriers next Saturday (17th April).