Rotherham United (U18s) 2-2 Doncaster Rovers (U18s)
EFL Youth Alliance
Friday 22nd April 2022
A meeting between two teams with contrasting styles ended honours even in this South Yorkshire derby between Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers in the North-East Youth Alliance.
Rotherham's predominant style of play is well-known. They go from back to front quicker than it takes me to type out the words 'BOOM-BALL' and recruit to a certain blueprint tailored to meet that criteria, meaning they often have a height advantage over their opponents as well.
Coming up against them always means a very physical test and whilst their preferred style might not please football purists, it achieves results. They've finished in the top half of the Youth Alliance (North-East) this term for a very good reason along with handing out first-year professional deals to three of their young players.
With the wind blowing towards the end they were attacking in the first half and on a bone dry and bobbly pitch, the Millers dominated the opening 20 minutes and were unlucky not to open up a bigger lead than just the one goal cushion they actually established. Such was their early dominance then I'm probably not the only person who thought they might rack up quite a few goals if they'd been allowed to carry on and dictate things in the same vein across the entire game.
Rovers 'keeper Luke Chadwick had already been tested a few times - including when a player in a red shirt flashed a dangerous low ball in towards the near-post area, before they won a free-kick out wide on the quarter-hour mark. That set-piece was subsequently swung into a packed penalty area where their forward rose highest and connected with a firm header to send the ball into the goal. 1-0 to Rotherham (and deservedly so).
By the midway point in the first period, Donny (wearing blue) had gradually began to establish a mini-foothold and retain the ball for more than just one or two touches in their opponents' half. Alex Wolny was often an outlet due to his great strength as Rovers themselves fell into the trap of playing 'direct' against the wind and his hard work resulted in him being pulled and grappled at by Rotherham's No.17 on a few occasions before he was eventually booked.
The Millers, by an large, were still on top though and amidst Charlie Petch and Hamish Douglas (the tallest player in each team) having a right good old-fashioned battle every time the ball was up in the air, they carved out a few further opportunities. Good skill on the byline almost led to a second goal for Rotherham whilst a curling strike from the edge of the area on the back of some decent build-up play very nearly found the top corner.
Rovers' improvement became more noticeable by the minute and an equaliser occured on the half-hour mark. Alex Fletcher and Alex Wolny were involved on the right and the ball eventually reached Jack Goodman. His pass inside split the hosts' defence and with Corie Cole and Tom Parkison queueing up at the back-post, Cole applied the finishing touch to much approval from his team-mates. 1-1.
Things were then very 'nip tuck' up to half-time with not much in the way of drama but with a wind that seemed to be getting stronger. In a nutshell, it was largely scrappy. Donny had a few bits of play in higher areas with Wolny doing well and Cole and Goodman coming into the game more but Rotherham still had the best chances. They were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the area which was struck narrowly wide of Chadwick's left-hand post in what proved to be the last incident of the first half.
Rovers opted to go into the changing room for their half-time team talk whilst their counterparts braved the wind and discussed things out on the pitch and whatever was said behind closed doors worked (to an extent) because Rovers dominated the first 15-20 minutes or so after the re-start.
With the wind now in their favour and blowing towards the end which they were attacking, they expressed themselves well in this period. They got the ball down, moved it around in good areas, in and around the final third, and it proved dividends because it resulted in another goal. Cole was again the orchestrator as he drifted into empty space between defenders on the edge of 'D' to receive a pass and then threaded a delicate through to an unmarked Goodman ahead of him who fired home with aplomb. 2-1 to Rovers!
Some Millers players, more so than others, were visibly rattled at this point with Parkinson receiving a petulant little 'slap' when he ran to celebrate the second goal with his team-mates. It was noticed by the linesman (who didn't speak to the referee) so no further action was taken - but what Rovers really needed to do now was add some security to their advantage by bagging a third goal.
They almost did it when Parkinson spotted the 'keeper off his line and tried his luck with an audacious (and wind-assisted) shot from halfway line which ended up going closer to goal than it initially ever looked like it would. A few minutes later, Owen Scattergood was slipped through on goal by Cole but he watched on as his effort was smothered at the near-post by the Rotherham 'keeper.
Rovers turned to their substitutes for the final 20 minutes with Will Hollings and Tom Henson introduced for Cole and Jack Raper, but prior to this, momentum had started to shift again as the hosts re-established a foothold and got the ball higher up the pitch owing to their 'back to front in three seconds with a long punt over the top' style of football.
Chadwick was forced to make a save from a low drive with about a quarter-of-an-hour to go and the resulting set-piece bore fruit for Rotherham who equalised. The ball into the near-post area reached Hamish Douglas who, despite screams for offside, was able to spin and smash the ball home from a couple of yards. It was a preventable goal and the offside appeals fell on deaf ears. 2-2.
By now, things were back in the balance once again and the pendulum could have swung either way.
As it transpired, Rovers shaded the latter stages but lacked that decisive bit of quality to get the win despite spurning a glorious chance when Henson and Hollings combined high up on the right flank. Having reached the byline, the ball was knocked across goal towards Wolny at the back-post who resisted the urge for a first time shot and eventually saw his effort saved by the 'keeper.
Hollings was then involved in another incident in the second-minute of injury-time which resulted in a red card for the very same Rotherham player who'd earlier got 'rattled' and left a bit on Parkinson earlier on. Having just won a free-kick in his own half, he was about to grab the ball in preparation to take it when his opponent lashed out at him for no reason other than being frustrated. The referee was stood just yards away from the unfolding events and had no alternative but to brandish a straight red card for violent conduct (something which is an instant three-game suspension). It was stupid and pointless; even more so because the resulting free-kick was played long and immediately cleared, at which point the referee blew for full-time anyway!
A point apiece was probably the fairest outcome; the game being more of a physical challenge for Rovers' players as opposed to a tactical football battle (which is often the case in games against Rotherham) but again, you can't really knock the Millers because they're a difficult proposition and it's worked for them so many times in the past.
Donny grew into things after a particularly slow start and showed snippets of quality upfront - particularly through Corie Cole (who showed nice touches and good movement; a good contribution as he influenced things in high areas once he got into the game) and Alex Wolny (who was brilliant with his hold-up play during a tough first 45 minutes) but the defensive vulnerabilities at set-plays meant two preventable/sloppy goals were conceded. It's what concerned me most and where Rotherham look most threatening and it's undoubtedly an area where Rovers need to improve as much as possible leading into next season.
That aside, in open play the defensive unit were strong. Charlie Petch had a good running battle with his marker; Jak Whiting was involved and tested in a few ways (along with offering all his other qualities) and Dan Wilds had to work hard and was involved in a few battles.
Higher up the pitch, Jack Raper put a shift in and covered a lot of ground given it was a difficult game at times considering the ball was often up in the air, Owen Scattergood looked bright when he came on (which is pleasing), Tom Parkinson was involved in bits and is looking more combative, despite his slight physique and a quiet demeanour, and Jack Goodman will be happy to have scored one, assisted the other and nudge himself ever closer to the landmark of 20 goals for this season. Can he do it?
Two tougher battles from a footballing perspective rather than a physical viewpoint, now await Rovers before the season comes to its conclusion.
They host second-placed Grimsby Town before traveling to already-confirmed champions Bradford City who are capable of popping a few goals past every team in this league. The lads will know they'll have to be at the top of their game to get points from either fixture such is the calibre of both opposition teams and I'm looking forward a lot to both games - they'll probably be more 'pure' with good quality on show rather than 'bitty' and 'scrappy' affairs like this encounter largely proved to be.
Before then, for me personally it's a trip to Scotland to watch the Youth Cup Final at Hampden Park between Hearts and Rangers next Wednesday... plus a day trip (possibly!) to the greatest place on the planet in Arbroath which is a cross between Las Vegas and Cleethorpes!
