It's a second place finish for Rovers Under 21's in Rob Jones' first season in charge
Rovers 1(Mandeville 45’)Hull 3 (Tombides 34’ , 58' , Rodgers 50')
Wednesday 22nd April, 2015
Cantley Park, Doncaster
Final Third Development League
This was the game that would decide the destination of the Final Third Development East league title, Rovers were in hot pursuit of the leaders Hull City who knew if they managed to get a point they would retain their status as league champions, unfortunately for Doncaster they got all three.
The visitors were on top from the first whistle and they nearly went ahead inside three minutes. An in-swinging corner from Max Clark was met by the head of Ben Clappison but his effort was well wide of the goal.
It was from a corner that Doncaster had their first chance of the game also, a pin-point cross from Lewis Ferguson was met by the head of the diving Paul McKay but it was directed over the crossbar.
Hull continued to pressure Doncaster and they nearly took the lead on the 31st minute, a long ball over the top of the Rovers defence by Ellis Barkworth was miss-judged by Kevin Mbuti, it fell to the feet of Johan Ter-Horst who tried to squeeze his shot past Marosi but the Slovakian was equal to the shot.
They took the lead five minutes later, the Tigers goalkeeper Erik Bukran hoofed the ball long and once again it was miss-judged but Mbuti but this time he paid for it. Taylor Tombides got in front of the defender and chipped the ball over the advancing Marosi.
Rovers were level on the stroke of half time, some strong and tricky play by Jack McKay created some space for the himself to pull the ball back to Liam Mandeville who was in acres of space to poke the ball into an empty net.
Half Time: Doncaster Rovers U21's 1-1 Hull City U21's
The Tigers were quick out of the blocks and on their first attack they regained the lead, a whipped free-kick by Matthew Dixon found centre half Harvey Rodgers who slotted it past the helpless Marosi.
Hull began to run away with the game, because it was three on the 57th minute and it was a carbon copy of their first, a long ball over the top by goalkeeper Bukran was picked up by Tombides again who beat Marosi at his near post.
There was a bit of brilliance from Doncaster though, a corner by Middleton was knocked down by the head of Mbuti into the path of Mandeville who tried a spectacular overhead kick that was inches away from the crossbar.
There was one more chance for the visitors though, the ball bounced around like a pinball in the Rovers area before Tombides who was on a hat-trick tried to chip Marosi for the second time in the game, but the Rovers' goalkeeper produced a superb one handed save to tip it over the bar.
Rovers Under 21's manager Rob Jones was very frustrated with his team's performance but he was more than pleased with his sides effort this season, the red and white hoops will undoubtedly be looking to go one better next season and win the title.
Full Time: Doncaster Rovers U21's 1-3 Hull City U21's
Rovers Starting XI: Marosi, Greasley, P.McKay, Mbuti (Williamson 66’), McCawl, Middleton, Ferguson (Pugh 55’), Whitehouse, Bell, J.McKay (Parkin 75’), Mandeville
Unused Subs: Linley, McLaren
Hull Starting XI: Bukran, Barkworth, Tyman, Dixon, Clappison, Rodgers, Ter-Horst, Clark, Tombides (Hinchcliffe 76’), Luer (Mahon 84’), Annan (Lofts 87’)
Unused Subs: Hirst, Penny