Friday 5 November 2021

Basford United (U18s) 1-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Basford United (U18s) 1-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)
FA Youth Cup First Round
Friday 5th November 2021

Remember, Remember the 5th of November!

Explosions, roaring emotion and a DRAMATIC last-gasp injury-time winner from the wonder-kid that is Jack Goodman to fire Doncaster Rovers into the FA Youth Cup Second Round.

It was a performance to be enormously proud about; a performance where character and commitment was evident in abundance throughout the team and a performance filled with maturity.

Whilst Goodman (and scoring a last-gasp winner he's a very 'good man' indeed) will grab all the headlines after his injury-time heroics, every player in a Doncaster Rovers shirt contributed something positive as the lads worked their nuts off to emerge victorious from this challenging trip to Basford United.

In fairness, Rovers were better team for large swathes of the game, barring a 15-minute period when the balance wobbled in the hosts' favour.

During a first 45 minutes in which they stopped Basford from building up any kind of rhythm, the lads were exceptionally good value for the one-goal lead they established as the excellent Alex Fletcher (who was absolutely sublime at right-wing-back) slotted home from Corie Cole's delicious through pass.

Owen Scattergood and Tavonga Kuleya both missed good chances to double Rovers' lead and that looked as if it might prove closely when Jericho Bonner (once in the ranks at DRFC) stooped to head home an equaliser for the talented non-leaguers just after the re-start.

Now on the back foot and up against it, Rovers regrouped, refocused and regained the initiative as they pressed hard for a winner during the final half-hour with 'Man Of The Match' Fletcher having another strike ruled out for offside before Jack Raper, Michael Nesbitt and Bobby Faulkner all went close.

Extra-time was looming and pretty much imminent but with 94 minutes and nine seconds on the clock, Jack Raper's lofted clearance put Goodman in the clear and the striker lofted the ball over the advancing Basford 'keeper and into the net to provoke wild and unadulterated scenes of joy, celebration, pandemonium and utter delight which will stay with these lads forever!

These kind of golden moments are to be treasured and what a night it was complete with regular bangs and crackles in the skies above!



Match Report

From the moment the Rovers team arrived at Greenwich Avenue then it's fair to say that the fun and games began with strict rules enforced regarding players' footwear on Basford's 4G pitch. Nobody was allowed on it in anything other than boots - trainers weren't permitted as, apparently, they cause damage by flattening it so therefore the whole squad were forced to change footwear just to walk across towards the centre circle and inspect what they'd later be playing on.

Lets just say the 'rule' was enforced for everyone (including photographers) throughout the night and checked at all times - and there wasn't any room for compromising!

As to be expected for a Bonfire Night game there was a backdrop of exploding fireworks in the night's sky and a sizeable and excited crowd (the majority supporting Basford and eager to see a cup upset), paved the way for a difficult atmosphere.

Rovers received a welcome boost by virtue of Basford's starting line-up as usual skipper Jordan Haywood (doubling up as probably their most experienced player in terms of first team experience) was ineligible for selection due to paperwork surrounding his recent loan switch to Belper Town.

Meanwhile, Gary McSheffrey made a couple of changes to the team which lost heavily to Burton Albion last time out with Luke Chadwick returning in place of Tom Chambers between the posts whilst Jak Whiting's absence led to a reshuffle in personnel and paved the way for Alex Fletcher to start.

The majority of Rovers' full-time academy coaching staff were present including Frank Sinclair, Tony Mee and Steve Welsh. First Team assistant manager Noel Hunt was also watching the game in the small but ramshackle Main Stand across the pitch from the two dugouts.

Wearing their all blue away strip (where it's much easier to see players' numbers), it was Rovers - namely Owen Scattergood who got things underway at 7.30pm prompt.

The early minutes saw the lads get on the ball and express themselves positively with Scattergood actually enjoying the first opening of note when Gianni Musson was forced to palm away his shot from just inside the area on the back of a well-worked short-corner routine.

Basford soon replied with an opportunity of their own as Jericho Bonner, who was already getting caught up in a very interesting duel with Michael Nesbitt (worth the entry fee alone), managed to cut inside and let fly with a speculative effort which drew a decent stop by Chadwick. Then, just past the quarter-hour mark, Rory Harrison got inside the Rovers penalty area and curled a shot well wide.

Rovers were spraying the ball about quite confidently and on 21 minutes they made a breakthrough thanks to a defence-splitting pass by the technical magician that is Corie Cole and a perfectly-timed run from the energetic livewire that is Alex Fletcher which culminated in the right-wing-back firing home and celebrating emphatically with his team-mates. A well-worked goal with so much quality about it!

As the individual battle between Nesbitt and Bonner intensified with a few niggly tackles and 'dark arts' kind of work involving both parties - leading to the Basford playing receiving a yellow card and Nesbitt get a talking to by the referee, it was becoming clear that Rovers were getting on top, nullifying Basford's threat well and preventing them from building up a head of steam.

The lads were reacting quickly in the instances when they lost possession, demonstrating good shape and recovery, but really needed a second goal to open up a good lead - and one would have been established by half-time if either Scattergood or Kuleya had converted from decent positions around the box during a period of sustained pressure.

As it materialised, Rovers led 1-0 at the interval and Basford certainly knew they had to 'up the ante' and get on the front foot if they were to get back into things.

Whatever was said in the hosts' dressing room at half-time provoked the required response because for a 15-20 minute period immediately following the re-start, they looked rejuvenated, dangerous and totally capable of causing a whole of problems for Rovers' backline.

There was a warning sign that Basford were still in the game and weren't going to be beaten easily when Jack Raper was penalised for a foul on the edge of the box and Harrison curled the subsequent free-kick just a couple of inches over the frame of Chadwick's goal.

Nevertheless, only five minutes of the second period had been played when the team in yellow grabbed an equaliser which owed as much to a shade of good fortune as it had quality.

The lively Harrison showed nifty footwork to both latch onto a ball down the channel and turn inside and unleashed a more powerful strike than his previous effort which ricocheted off the underside of the woodwork and fortuitously into Bonner's path who was able to head it home and spark raucous celebrations from the home supporters.

At 1-1 and seeking even more, Rovers then spent the next five minutes or so camped inside their own half as Basford pressed and probed menacingly with Chadwick gathering a free-kick before Raper was dispossessed just inside his own half which culminated in Lewis Rourke unleashing a powerful drive from the edge of the area which caught a deflection and required another good save.

It's no secret that sometimes this season heads have dropped when the lads have conceded and this was such an important period of play because, had Basford bagged a second goal to perform a quick turnaround, then Rovers would have very much been up against it.

A fast and frenetic five-minute period then followed with half-decent openings and a couple of chances at either end. Basford's Bonner had a reasonable enough appeal for a penalty waved away by the officials after Rovers had spurned two good chances; Faulker heading wide from a set-piece and Goodman firing straight at Musson (who saved with his legs) following some lovely, quick and neat one-touch build-up play involving Hollings and Cole.

Slowly but surely, the balance of play began to swing in Rovers' favour and from 65 minutes onwards they created plenty of good chances - some of which ought to have been put away!

In one move, Fletcher put the ball into the back of the net (albeit a while after the whistle had been blown for a foul). In another, Raper arrowed a drive narrowly over the upright after a well-worked corner routine towards the edge. In probably the best of a quick cluster of openings, Nesbitt stung Musson's hands with a low shot having got into the box owing to some patient passing build-up play.

Musson produced another save inside the closing quarter-of-an-hour - adjusting his body well to palm a powerful drive from Kuleya into the air before he gathered the ball at the second attempt before anyone could pounce.

At this point the prospect of extra-time was growing and both teams knew that any mistakes now could have huge ramifications for their team's chances of progress.

Rovers introduced both Will Flint and Alex Wolny (for Hollings and Scattergood respectively) around this period whilst Basford also made a change with goalscorer Bonner being withdrawn in favour of the quick, pacey and clever player that is Kiran Nyemba.

The chances continued to be created, nonetheless, and two more came Rovers' way in quick succession - both of which Fletcher was heavily involved in. In the first move, the right-wing-back delivered a pinpoint cross which Nesbitt connected to with his head, albeit not powerfully enough, and Musson was able to gather. Less than two minutes later, Fletcher's tenacity and persistence meant he beat his man in racing onto a ball close to the byline and his subsequent near-post invitation of a cross was poked goalwards by Goodman but yet again the 'keeper was equal to it.

Basford looked a threat on the break and there were a couple of times when they almost broke through the midfield lines as Rovers were required to defend well. A set-piece (arguably the hosts' best chance of finding a winner) was also whipped into the six-yard box and scrambled away.

Five minutes of injury-time were signalled and with the clock behind the goal running about a minute slowly, it seemed as if it was longer.

In the 95th minute, however, the moment which everyone will cherish for years to come unfolded and it was a textbook 'Route One' move with a brilliant outcome. After the ball was poked out of defence and into Raper's path close to the halfway line, the midfielder helped it on with a hopeful punt over the top which fell kindly. Suddenly, Goodman was in-behind the Basford defence and only had the 'keeper to be beat and a little bounce allowed him to nick the ball over Musson and goalwards where it bounced again and eventually into the net - almost in slow motion as the defender tried his utmost to hook it away but to no avail.

Emphatic celebrations and screams of 'YESSSSSSSSS' followed as Goodman was mobbed by everyone - including the substitutes who raced down the touchline to celebrate with him. It was a brilliant moment and Rovers had the lead their performance so richly deserved. It was harsh on Basford but on the balance of play, merited from a DRFC perspective.

Despite the fact there was only around 50 seconds of the additional injury-time remaining, nearly double that was actually played and a few nerves would have jangled when Wolny gave away a free-kick (for which he was booked) on the halfway line immediately after the re-start. It allowed Basford to pump the ball into the box but Rovers' defence held firm, remained resolute and got the job done!

What a game - and what a dramatic outcome for everyone involved.



Individual Thoughts

To begin with, every player contributed something to this brilliant night which will stay with everyone involved for a long time to come. The fact that these lads have now won four out of their previous five games shows they're finding rhythm and progressing in the right direction.

Basford are a decent team and 'just because they're non-league' it shouldn't in any shape or form reduce from how dangerous they are. Yes, they would have been stronger if Jordan Haywood had been eligible to play (and his absence was a welcome bonus!) but I've seen them demolish other teams and they're good at what they do and have some undoubted quality players.

Nevertheless, apart from that 10-15-minute period when they got on top after half-time, Rovers nullified their threat significantly and kept them largely at bay. This was done through excellent shape, organisation, recovery play - especially in being decent at offensive-to-defensive transitions, good interventions and being aggressive where it was needed. Plaudits should be shared right the way through the team because those characteristics were exactly what was required to get a good result. If the lads had turned up with a ‘billy big balls’ attitude they’d have come unstuck!

The 'Man Of The Match' award goes to Alex Fletcher who was phenomenal at right-wing-back and he should take so much pride and delight in not only what he produced, but the quality of what he produced both on and off the ball.

Although the season is about halfway completed when it comes to the competitive games programme, this was the night (when it mattered!) where he stepped up and delivered an absolutely stellar and benchmark display and announced himself to watching audiences. What better time to do it!

His energy up and down the right flank was terrific. He was like 'Dennis the Menace' on a sugar rush with his tenacity and pace and put some quaity balls into the box, created lots of good openings, linked up nicely in a lot of the attacking play, got in good and often goalscoring positions, wasn’t afraid of anything and it was a sublime, high quality, high energy performance which was delightful to watch. I couldn't be happier for him to have done this out of every player in the team. If there is ever a point where he needs a confidence boost then he should just re-read this post, recapture the moment and remember the quality of what he contributed to create these memories for himself and his team-mates.

It was an absolutely top class, diamond of a performance by the little goat!

A collective mention also needs to go to the back three of Dan Wilds, Bobby Faulkner and Michael Nesbitt for their efforts in nullifying their opponents.

I stated in my pre-match preview that coming out on top in the majority of individual duels was going to be important when it came to getting the win (especially for the defenders) and these lads did that. Michael Nesbitt in particular had a running battle with Jericho Bonner from the first minute with plenty of the 'dark arts' stuff happening and he delivered a mature and solid showing. Bobby Faulkner was like a rock and unbeatable, whilst Dan Wilds slotted straight back into the back three following a spell in midfield with effortless ease, and offered an assured presence. They worked well together as a unit, possessed a strong and solid understanding and deserve credit for keeping Basford largely contained for much of the game.

Elsewhere, Jack Goodman once again demonstrated, (and especially so during the final half-hour), all the positive things that make him an asset to this team - the chasing things down, pressing, hard-work and commitment - they don't go unnoticed to these eyes. The last-gasp winner was a 'rocket fuel' adrenaline-rush moment for everyone involved and probably like none that any of the lads have ever experienced before. He took the chance so well, showing composure when there was plenty of work still to do despite and he'll no doubt get plenty of headlines to saviour the moment.

He's now equalled the top scorer's tally for last season (seven goals) and performing how he does then it's only a matter of time before he'll break through that barrier.

Owen Scattergood was also fantastic and so committed to the cause. He raised his game by a few notches and was a total pain in the backside for Basford with his pace, persistence, pressing and general threat on the front-line. Although he probably should have scored a goal or two, he'll be happy with his own work and can take encouragement from impressing many of the onlookers who had positive things to say afterwards about his contribution.

Elsewhere, Corie Cole's assist for the opening goal with a perfectly-weighted and perfectly-placed through ball was as sublime as it was inviting for Alex Fletcher to smash into the back of the net; it oozed quality and couldn't have been played any better. Jack Raper was instrumental in pulling the strings from his midfield position to create chances. He had plenty of touches during the game and although his assist for the second goal was a more of a speculative punt than an incisive through ball, his improved performances in recent weeks deserve recognition. There are still areas where he could improve when out of possession (and that will come with experience) but he was another who contributed greatly to this success.

Following an initially slow start, Will Hollings grew into proceedings admirably; showing measured composure and a willingness to want the ball in midfield - particularly during that crucial period when Basford got on top after half-time. It helped relieve some of what was becoming constant pressure and ultimately helped the lads to wrestle back a firmer foothold. Tavonga Kuleya also put in a decent shift in the generally unfamiliar left-wing-back position - showing a few glimpses of what he can do in attacking positions but contributing to the overall outcome.

Lastly amongst the starting line-up, Luke Chadwick just delivered another standard performance in goal which was testament to the work he’s put in and how comfortable he’s looked in pretty much every game this season. He commanded his area well, barring the odd instance, and my only concern is whether he’ll endure any lasting nightmares from having to wear that fluorescent pink kit for 90 minutes! It was a nice touch to see him applauded by Basford’s contingent behind the goal immediately after the full-time whistle as well.

Both the two substitutes who came on also did exactly what was required of them in their respective cameo outings. Will Flint sat in and competed well to nullify Basford’s threat and drive from midfield whereas Alex Wolny did what he does best - provide a physical presence, work hard, challenge and tire further some already-knackered home defenders.

I hope the lads savoured every last moment of the victory - the celebrations afterwards certainly suggested so, and I hope they’ve all got massive grins on their faces this morning. Football can be an emotional roller-coaster at the best of times and such dramatic moments like scoring a last-gasp injury-time winner don’t come along very often!

Take it all in and enjoy it this weekend enormously, but also cast a fleeting thought back to last weekend’s defeat to Burton Albion, how that felt, and get ready to ‘go again’ in preparation for an away game at Harrogate Town next Saturday where consistency and another good performance full of hard-work will be paramount to winning again.

Whack on some Avicii or Swedish House Mafia (my music taste is immaculate!) on full blast, get the blood going and fists pumping, celebrate in style, talk about it plenty, and recapture last night’s emotions and exactly what it meant and above everything… bring on Rotherham United!

And for any Doncaster Rovers fans who’ve read this far then get your backsides off the sofa and to the Keepmoat Stadium to give these lads the support they deserve in Round Two! They’ve worked their nuts off to progress and achieve good things for the club you're meant to support so reward them by turning up to support them in return!

The game will be played before Saturday 20th November (Date TBC) and it’ll be far more exciting than watching Eric Pollard or Kim Tate in whatever crap storyline there is on Emmerdale!

Get in and well done!!!












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