Harrogate Town (U18s) 2-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

Harrogate Town (U18s) 2-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance

Friday 5th May 2023

The final game of the season for both of these teams and a ‘Desmond Tutu’ as Doncaster Rovers staged a brilliant late fightback from 2-0 down to rescue a point at soon-to-be-crowned North-East Youth Alliance champions Harrogate Town.

Although the Harrogate lads will have to wait until Monday to receive their medals, get their hands on the trophy and sing a particular song by Queen, the CHAMPIONS showed glimpses of what they’re all about and why they’ve done so well this season in this game - even if they couldn’t quite hang on for all three points in the end.

Having weathered a really tough opening period where they were pushed back and Rovers pretty much dominated the possession and created several chances - the best of which saw Will Green clip the ball onto the crossbar when he was put through in a one-on-one and Max Adamson volley over from a few yards after a high quality, fast-flowing move involving Josh Lindley and Tom Parkinson who provided the cross, it was Harrogate who took the lead just past the half-hour mark.

Mason Wilson, who had a really good game, was the architect as he linked-up with Brad Williams (the undoubted ‘Man Of The Match’) via a superbly floated 50-yard ball over the top for the No.7 to get in-behind and run onto, which Williams then squared across goal to be finished off by Ben Tweed. 1-0.

That was harsh on Rovers but exactly what can happen if you don’t take your chances, and those in red and white soon felt more aggrieved when Tom Parkinson was brought down inside the box by Brad Williams who slid in and looked to have made contact with the player rather than the ball. It looked ominous, it was a heart in mouth moment with that gulping stomach churning sensation that punishment was about to follow, and although a lot of people thought the referee would point to the spot, he instead waved away the appeals.

Rovers then worked themselves another good chance after the re-start as Sam Brown (on at half-time for Tom Parkinson) broke fast through the middle, got into the box and nearly rounded the ‘keeper. Something of a scramble ensued and with Alex Mooney on the ground, in a bit of a pickle, and Brown laying it off to the nearby Harry Wood, the Rovers No.10 seemed to kick the ball against the ‘keeper and be denied only for a goal-kick to bizarrely be awarded instead of what was definitely a corner. 

Needless to say, a few words were said in the aftermath!

That chance aside, however, Harrogate looked a lot more solid and more composed at the start of the second half as they pressed forward more.

They’d already showed glimpses of their quality and intent; Brad Williams being a persistent threat whenever he had possession and Ben Tweed (No.14) coming into the game more and more after his opening goal, and the champions eventually made it 2-0 from a set-piece as Ollie Nicholson’s corner found Alfie Lee whose looping header went over Rovers sub ‘keeper Jacob Bryant and into the back of the Rovers net.

With one of the best strikers in the Youth Alliance in Emmanuel Ilesanmi entering the field for Harrogate around this time, there was a fear from a DRFC perspective that Harrogate might move up through the gears, run away with it and rack up a decent scoreline.

But Rovers are made of stern stuff and although the ball didn’t tend to particularly stick too well when it went into feet in the final third, Harrogate still looked vulnerable defensively and Alex Fletcher - playing the final game of his two-year scholarship soon took it upon himself to change the game. Receiving possession inside his own half, he went on a mazy, meandering and determined run through the middle (vibes of that FA Youth Cup game against Basford last year where he dominated the game), squared a one-two with Will Green on the edge of the box, and when he got the ball back, he took it past three defenders to open up the angle and finished with his weaker left-foot - driving the ball straight into the top corner. 

WHAT A GOAL by a lad who has been superb, has a brilliant attitude, and given everything in a DRFC shirt for the past two years. Needless to say, the goal was so good, I’m sure it’ll appear on his Instagram story at some point in the next few days!

Young Mr Fletcher wasn’t quite done there though because in one final act of quality, he played a massive part in Rovers’ dramatic equaliser deep into injury-time.

Signing off his scholarship in style, it was his cross into the ‘mixer’ that wasn’t quite dealt with by Harrogate’s backline and the ball dropped kindly for Jacob Bacon - up from the back and not set to begin his two-year scholarship until next season, who slammed the ball home before celebrating an emphatic moment which was the icing on the cake after what’s been a very good couple of weeks for him.

There was one downside to all the late drama though as just a few minutes before the equaliser, Max Adamson - a pain in the backside who looked sharp and dangerous throughout this game, was left injured after a 50-50 incident where Mason Wilson accidentally landed on top of him whilst they were battling to win the ball. A complete accident. No malice intended and just one of those things and the good news is although Max left the ground afterwards on crutches, there’s no bone damage so he should be fine in the long-term.

Overall, the comeback capped off an entertaining game of football - there was a good intensity about the game, it was exciting, entertaining, both teams were fired up and really wanted to win, it was a test, there was passion on show and a number of good players on the pitch.

For Tom Parkinson, Josh Lindley, Alex Fletcher and Faris Khan, this was the last game of their scholarships and they’re all departing the club this summer.

But all four lads have been a credit to themselves.

Tom Parkinson had a really good first half as he was strong, lively, affected play in a positive way and despite being partly caught out of position for Harrogate’s opening goal, he was involved in loads of positive things going forward, far more positive than negative and very unlucky to be substituted. A top lad with a good personality who’ll go far in life. Good luck Tom!

Josh Lindley will remember these two years with fondness from that game where he was Bolton’s best midfielder to his thunderbolt 30-yarder in a friendly on the 4G against Salford, and he’s recently gained a lot of experience at Ossett Town which will stand him in good stead for next season. Another fantastic lad who is a credit to himself and his family. Alex Fletcher has just been a consistent class act - always giving 100% commitment each week and very close to actually earning a contract (and if he was at another club which wanted to spend more money than DRFC right now perhaps he would have?) And Faris Khan, another who was close to getting a pro deal, will leave the club with memories of his appearance against Lincoln City in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier this season along with his ‘Goal of the Month’ trophy too. Good luck Faris!

Harry Wood, Will Green, Will Flint, Freddie Allen, Max Adamson and Jake Oram - along with Chris Pooley and Justin Bennett (who didn’t feature in this game due to injury but were present on the touchline watching all the pigeons in the nearby trees), will now move into the second-year of their scholarships whilst Jacob Bacon, Sam Brown, Jamie Tomlinson, Kasper Williams, Jacob Bryant (who’ll be delighted to know the ‘keepers kit isn’t bright pink next year), plus one or two others will begin their two-year scholarships later this summer.

But the final word in this piece has to go to THE CHAMPIONS!

Nobody gave Harrogate a chance at the start of the season, yet time and again, they’ve churned out results, beat some of the top teams, dug deep, produced the goods and therefore they are thoroughly deserved champions. 

I was fortunate enough to see them beat Doncaster in the fixture at the start of October in a very eventful game where they were at their ruthless best and set a really high benchmark (report on that one click here) and their quality was on show again in spells today. They’ve got good players - special mentions for Brad Williams who was really impressive on the right-wing and I hope can go on and have a decent career because he’s got all the tools to do well along with both a knowledgeable and fantastically supportive family behind him all the way. Mason Wilson, too, who was very neat, tidy, produced two fantastic goal contributions and had a brilliant burst of pace down the flank in the second half. All good and it was easy to spot why he’s so highly thought of by the coaches. Emmanuel Ilesanmi; a powerhouse at this level who’ll have plenty of memories of previous games against Doncaster which he can smile about now if he ever reads this and he actually showed a great bit of technique and pace to burst away before he was chopped down in one move late on. Ben Tweed who scored one (steady finish) showed some neat and tidy technique and footwork inside the box where he nearly scored just after he flashed an effort over when it was 2-0, and Alex Mooney who pulled off some good low saves in the early stages when the game was goalless.

But every lad in this Harrogate squad - even those not mentioned above, have contributed to the collective success this season. It’s been an effort as one and that grit, desire, willingness to battle, to compete, to give everything when the chips have been down, plus that’s bit of physicality what’s needed when you have to roll the sleeves up in the harder games against teams such as Rotherham, is why they’ve succeeded. 

And although they couldn’t end the season on a win, they’ve still got so much to be enormously proud of for what they’ve achieved.

A little mention too needs to go to Josh Brodella because his goal photo which always appears on Twitter; him grinning and with a hand covering his eye as if he's Pudsey Bear, has become one of the most striking and familiar images following the Youth Alliance this season - and it proves he’s got a good end product for it to be so familiar.

So enjoy Monday, lads. Soak it up, take it in. Get loads of photos. Get them on Instagram afterwards for the likes and enjoy the moment when ‘We Are The Champions’ plays aloud over the PA system, Harry Gator the mascot is clapping you along with those in the ground, and you get your hands on that trophy and hoist it aloft. Get your families there. And celebrate in style because you’ve done them proud just as much as yourselves.

You’ve earned it. You deserve it and YOU ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

Harrogate Town: Alex Mooney, Mason Wilson, James Birmingham, Alfie Lee, Lewis Smalley (Bobby Attree), Cadarn Taylor, Brad Williams, Ben Tweed, Elijah Samuels (Emmanuel Ilesanmi), Ollie Nicholson (Bray), Josh Brodella (Alasdair Kerr).

Doncaster Rovers: Jake Oram (Jacob Bryant), Will Flint, Jacob Bacon, Alex Fletcher, Freddie Allen, Faris Khan, Josh Lindley (Jamie Tomlinson), Harry Wood (Trialist), Tom Parkinson (Sam Brown), Will Green, Max Adamson. Unused Sub: Kasper Williams.