Burton Albion (U18s) 0-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Burton Albion (U18s) 0-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance North-East Division

Friday 16th September 2022

Nobody can deny that it’s been a really positive start to the season for Doncaster Rovers U18s and another stride in the right direction was made as they went top of the EFL North-East Youth Alliance table with this 2-0 win Burton Albion.

After a cagey first half in which both teams had chances, Jack Goodman got the opener with a sweet left-footed strike from the edge of the box on the hour mark before Faris Khan capped off another good individual display by claiming the second goal.

Whilst Rovers’ stay at the summit is likely to last for just 24 hours - largely down to the fact that Bradford (one point behind them) play Lincoln (specialists in conceding goals at the moment) tomorrow, there’s a whole host of facts and statistics which underlines the undoubted progress the team is making.

- They're unbeaten in five games so far this season, winning four of them.

- They haven't conceded in 4 hours and 15 minutes (since the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Rotherham).

- They've already kept three clean-sheets this term (two more than in the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign).

- They haven't conceded a goal from open play since the season began (7 hours and 30 minutes).

- They've just beaten a Burton Albion team who did the ‘double’ over them last year, scoring seven times in the process.

- They've made a winning start in the Group Stages of both their cup competitions.

On top of all that, the team is looking much more organised compared to previously which is down to the impact Chad Gribble has made since his appointment as youth team manager.

I've now seen enough games to state with confidence that I feel the lads can challenge for a top three position. I won't state the title because Bradford are a very good side, as are Grimsby, but if this result can be followed up with three more points in both the upcoming fixtures against Scunthorpe and Harrogate, it will properly cement their position in the league table.

For this fixture at St George Park’s, there was just one change to the team which put five goals past Hull City in the Premier League Cup a fortnight ago as Tom Parkinson replaced Will Green.

Rovers began positively and went close in just the second minute when Faris Khan's corner towards the far-post narrowly evaded Max Adamson who'd taken up a good position. Adamson was in the thick of the action again shortly afterwards when he seized upon a slip by a Burton defender (as the hosts tried to play out from the back) and threaded a pass through to Jack Raper who skewed his shot across goal and wide when he ought to have laid it on a plate for Jack Goodman.

Either side of Jak Whiting needing treatment after a heavy collision in a 50-50 in the centre circle, the Brewers tried their luck with a couple of 'pot shots' from distance; neither of which troubled Jake Oram. The Rovers ‘keeper was tested when some piercing play by Burton culminated in their No.2 reaching the byline and unleashing a vicious near-post attempt - but, even if the ball had gone in the net, the flag was already up for offside anyway!

Charlie Petch fired over when a recycled corner dropped to him inside the box in Donny’s next chance before Burton squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead when they counter-attacked down the right and played a ball inside to their No.7 who had time and space to do much more than blaze harmlessly over the upright.

The miss meant it remained 0-0 at half-time and, initially after the re-start, the Brewers looked the more likely of the two teams to make the breakthrough with some dangerous balls down their right flank which had to be defended against. They also picked up quite a lot of second balls around this point but weren’t able to convert that into anything meaningful infront of goal because when they did get an opening, Oram was quick and alert to smother the danger really well.

It was against the balance of play at this point that Rovers then bagged the opener on the hour mark.

Khan was instrumental as he won possession when Burton ought to have cleared their lines and played a neat ball through to Raper, who then found Goodman located on the edge of the ‘D’. The striker opened his body up to receive the pass and move away from his marker before executing a powerful left-foot drive into the bottom corner. BOOM. 1-0.

The opener signalled a turning point because from then onwards, Rovers were a lot more dominant and forceful within their play - especially in the middle of the park. Raper got on the ball more, Khan grew with confidence, and Josh Lindley played a key role in the second goal which came on 70 minutes. His through ball released Goodman and although the forward saw his effort from a relatively tight angle palmed away, Khan capitalised on some hesitant defending to fire home on the rebound from close to the penalty spot. 2-0.

With the prize of being ‘top of the table’ looming, the outcome never looked in doubt during the latter stages and Rovers would have won by a bigger scoreline had Burton’s 'keeper (donning some very questionable pink boots) not saved separate attempts from both Khan and substitute Harry Wood.

The lads can take a lot of confidence from this result because Burton are a decent team who played well in parts and showed enough to suggest they’ll take points off other teams who'll be at or around the top of the league this season. Their No.4, Finn Delap, and No.7, especially (although I don't know his name) deserve a mention because they gave a good account of themselves at different points.

Rovers performance still needs improvement in some areas; the ball retention could definitely have been better at times during the first period and the movement could have been quicker in open play a few times, but the first goal came at a really good time and the collective display went up a few notches after it. The last 30 minutes were very positive, the facts/stats speak for themselves (especially the defensive ones) and it says a lot about the standards of this group that they’re top of the league but will still want to improve and get even better.

Individually, Charlie Petch made some excellent blocks in the first half which were crucial and played a big part towards the outcome; Will Flint performed strongly in the second half and Jak Whiting (up against a really talented opponent) played his part in helping to keep another clean-sheet. When Jake Oram, behind them, did find himself being tested, he dealt with what he had to and it was his best performance of his scholarship so far.

The midfield, including Jack Raper and Josh Lindley, all got better as the game progressed and Faris Khan, in particular, deserves an extended mention because his role in both goals were quality - and how he took the game to Burton in the second half was excellent. He looks so much more confident, assured on the ball and established compared to last year and he’s playing some great football at the minute. Keep it up, keep striving and keep working hard because it's a pleasure to see it happening.

Alex Fletcher is always good to watch and again he showed the right ideas in this game (even when they didn’t pay off - and even when he let out a frustrated squeal when he crossed straight into the arms of the 'keeper early in the second half). His consistent traits means he’ll be one of the first picks on the team-sheet at present, whilst Tom Parkinson looked a big threat against his full-back, Burton's No.2, whenever he had any kind of battle with him. It’s a shame the ball wasn’t played down his flank as much as it was the other flank in the first half because there was certainly potential for something to happen there.

Max Adamson started well and then had a quiet game by his standards; which happens to everyone from time to time but he's got nothing to worry about given how well he's played in other recent games up to now. Owen Scattergood looked bright and added a spark of enthusiasm and energy upfront when he replaced him, whilst Jack Goodman once again did what he does best - and the technique for his latest goal was up there and as good as anything I've seen from him.

Harry Wood tried his best to make myself look like ‘Mystic Meg’ as I told him he’d get a big chance to score when he was warming up (because I’ve got the confidence that he’ll always get into positions to enjoy chances), Justin Bennett will be happy to have got some game-time, whilst Freddie Allen featured for the final few minutes in a case of 'shutting up shop' to ensure another clean-sheet.

I know enough about the lads to know they won't get carried away at being top of the league overnight. That said, it’s something of a mini-milestone which they've reached and it's a position they’ll be hoping to spend more time in over the course of the season.

Next up are Scunthorpe; they’ll pose a few threats, and another big performance will be needed.

Over to you lads…

Team: Jake Oram, Alex Fletcher, Jak Whiting (C), Josh Lindley (Justin Bennett), Charlie Petch, Will Flint, Faris Khan (Harry Wood), Jack Raper, Jack Goodman (Freddie Allen), Max Adamson (Owen Scattergood), Tom Parkinson. Unused Subs: Chris Pooley, Will Green.