Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 0-2 Grimsby Town (U18s)

Doncaster Rovers (U18s) 0-2 Grimsby Town (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance

Saturday 14th August 2021

A goal either side of half-time did the damage as Doncaster Rovers were comfortably beaten 2-0 by a very well-organised Grimsby Town side at Cantley Park.

Marshalled by the commanding Jaz Goundry, the Mariners looked tough and resolute and went 1-0 up just a minute before the break when the big defender guided the ball home from a set-piece. 

Edwin Essel then got the better of Bobby Faulkner and slotted past Tom Chambers to double the lead shortly after the re-start and although Rovers did go close through Jack Goodman, Grimsby were the better team and deservedly emerged as winners.

Youth team manager Gary McSheffrey made just one outfield change to his starting line-up from the 3-2 win at Lincoln City as Charlie Petch replaced the absent Michael Nesbitt at centre-back.

The game was largely devoid of clear-cut openings and the early exchanges were tight and tentative with both sides trying to implement their respective game-plans and establish some authority.

Grimsby, on the whole, shaded things during this period and Rovers' hopes suffered a notable setback as early as the quarter-hour mark. That was because Owen Scattergood - a player with a knack of being able to drift into good goalscoring positions who is getting quicker and stronger all the time, sustained a knock and had to be replaced by Corie Cole.

It soon became apparrent that Jaz Goundry - someone who has already earned a professional contract at Blundell Park, was strongly influencing proceedings. From his centre-back berth he provided a calm, composed and re-assuring presence to those in sky blue shirts around him and it meant that when Rovers did try and build up a head of steam, they were finding it very hard to break their opponents down.

Ball retention also became an issue; possession was frustratingly lost down the right flank too often whilst there was sometimes a lack of cohesiveness in central areas. The closest the lads came to getting a shot in on goal was when Jack Goodman had a 25-yard attempt charged down.

As a consequence of Rovers' struggles, it meant Grimsby began to see the ball more often and put some effective passing moves together. That was transferred into territorial dominance as the game approached the half-hour mark and they certainly appeared the more likely of the two teams to find an opener.

It wasn't until 32 minutes that Tom Chambers made his first save by palming away Will Hodgson's well-struck drive and it came just a minute before the same player's dangerously in-swinging corner needed to be tipped over, via the woodwork, for another set-piece which came to zero.

The Mariners' No.4 (who was also impressive) hit a hopeful low shot wide of the target and with half-time fast-approaching, there was a brief stoppage after Jak Whiting was caught by a careless challenge on the near touchline which resulted in Grimsby's captain receiving a yellow card.

A bad trait for Rovers in recent weeks has been conceding sloppy goals from set-plays and it proved costly once again as the visitors broke the deadlock on 44 minutes.

Will Flint gave away a cheap free-kick out wide and the resulting set-piece delivery was lofted at a decent height into the box. Another breakdown in communications - some players in red shirts holding their line whilst others weren't, ended with Goundry getting goal-side of his marker and being able to guide the ball with his foot past Chambers for 1-0. 

Rovers had plenty of work to do but it was Grimsby who stepped things up a level and looked absolutely dominant in the early stages of the second half.

Within a minute of Hodgson drilling a speculative long shot wide, they made it 2-0 - this time as Essel was able to get goal-side of Faulkner in latching onto the ball before he took it around the advancing Chambers and slotted home.

Many things could have been better from a Donny perspective but Grimsby's lead was merited because they were simply the better team and they continued to dominate possession, showing purpose and intent along with pressing well whenever they could.

Faris Khan had already replaced Charlie Petch in a tactical substitution at half-time and McSheffrey again turned to his bench in hope of finding a way back into things as Whiting was withdrawn for the creative Jack Raper just before the hour mark.

Nevertheless, Rovers rarely looked as if they would find a route back into things. Goundry continued to control the game from the heart of the Mariners' defence, Hodgson provided a threat of sorts further up the pitch along with Harry Milner (and a few others) who put a good shift in.

Donny did create a couple of chances. Tom Parkinson's out-swinging corner was met with a header from Faulkner which lacked any accuracy as the ball sailed wide on 63 minutes and, during the lads' best passage of play shortly afterwards, they got in-behind for the only time as Khan and Goodman combined during a neat passing interchange which culminated with Goodman hammering an effort into the body of the 'keeper from eight yards when he ought to have done better.

Cole also had quite a few touches in the final third, another Parkinson corner was cleared but as the minutes ticked away, the pressure eased and Grimsby looked very comfortable.

Alex Fletcher replaced skipper Dan Wilds for the final quarter-of-an-hour and he put in a combative shift - including giving away a free-kick on the edge of the box which Hodgson curled over replacement 'keeper Luke Chadwick's upright. The big custodian was also tested by a shot from Milner, a few minutes earlier, which was on target but routinely saved.

Overall, it was a disappointing afternoon for DRFC because they didn't execute their own game-plan with any proper conviction or authority (barring a five minute spell in the second half) and they allowed themselves to be dictated to, dominated and bullied at times by a stronger team who showed a lot of good qualities. Not enough questions were asked and there are many areas for improvement.

Grimsby deserve credit for what they did and were very worthy winners who'll be a force to be reckoned with in the Youth Alliance this season - assuming that team is fielded every week. Their direct approach contrasted significantly to Lincoln's style of always wanting to play out from the back (seen in last week's game), but they had various attacking players who posed danger, were good on the ball, creative and just worked hard to do the right things. It was easy to see their talent and spot the ideas whilst some of the things they'll have undoubtedly learned during their pre-season matches against men's teams were probably carried into this performance.

Albeit taking into consideration that he was slightly older than everyone else (because up to five 'U19s' players can feature in Youth Alliance games this season), Goundry again organised things superbly from centre-back and their defensive line was only breached once during Rovers' best period of play in the second half. The centre-back wasn't tested in a physical battle at any point and that was partly down to both Alex Wolny and Ethan Harrison (two of the more stronger forwards in the ranks at Cantley Park) being unable for selection. 

The other attacking players who featured - Tom Parkinson, Jack Goodman, Corie Cole, Faris Khan, etc, have their own individual qualities but it proved to be a bridge too far for them to go up against a 6ft3 centre-back who was just totally dominant. They weren't helped by general play further down the pitch and individual decision-making being poor at times. Owen Scattergood limping off injured was also a blow to Rovers' attacking threat.

Nevertheless, there were small snippets of positivity. Alex Fletcher put in a shift in and showed his combative tendencies when he came on as a substitute for the final quarter-of-an-hour, Josh Lindley played a few neat and nice passes - although much more is needed to dominate a game, Will Flint was involved in quite a bit of the play (especially early on), Faris Khan and Corie Cole had a few decent touches and bits of involvement and, despite being at fault for the second goal which was a mistake and it happens - it's just one of those things!, Bobby Faulkner is getting stronger and making progress.

Having seen the lads in action various times - both last term and this season up to now, I'm starting to formulate clear opinions and there are reasons to be optimistic. Not every team will be as 'formidable' as this Grimsby line-up and I'm convinced if they can do the positive things they're capable of more consistently, cut out the sloppy errors (such as just not being as careless in possession at times or making the wrong decisions when trying to play out - which results in losing the ball), eradicate the cheap set-piece goals that are being given away - which is a must, then proof of progress and things coming together will be seen in an opposing team being walloped. 

A big, positive scoreline is going to happen at some point further down the line because the quality and technical ability is there in this squad. But for now, there's lots of work to do, lots of things to learn, lots of improvement needed, and lots of things to try and implement ahead of Bolton Wanderers' visit in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup next weekend.

Team: Tom Chambers (Luke Chadwick), Will Hollings, Jak Whiting, Dan Wilds (Alex Fletcher), Bobby Faulkner, Charlie Petch (Faris Khan), Josh Lindley, Will Flint, Jack Goodman, Owen Scattergood (Corie Cole), Tom Parkinson.