Solitary goal enough to topple Brewers.
Doncaster Rovers U21's 1 Lund (27')Burton Albion U21's 0
Final Third Development League
Cantley Park
A deflected Mitchell Lund effort was the only goal of the game which came half way through the first half, it really should have been two late on in the game but captain Harry Middleton missed from the penalty spot.
Doncaster were fighting the wind in the first half, but that did not dent their attacking style of play. Matthew Parkin whipped in a corner from the left side, it fell to Alex Head in the six yard box, his effort seemed to have crossed the line but the referee Duncan Carratt turned down an appeal from the very vocal Rob Jones.
Mr. Carratt was again at the centre of attention , this time striker Joe McCormick was bundled over by defender Ash Thorpe but once again the man in black waved away any protests from the Rovers bench.
Captain Middleton put in another superb performance and he nearly had an assist next to his name, his individual run through the Burton defence opened up space for him to slot a through ball to the over-lapping Lund but his effort was easily collected by Hornby in the Burton goal.
Finally Doncaster's pressure paid off.
Head picked the ball up in midfield, he played a delightful through ball to Lund who took aim and slotted the ball past the onrushing Hornby. His original effort was heading into the bottom right corner but a deflection off Jack Hallahan wrong-footed the goalkeeper and the ball ended up in the bottom left instead.
Half Time: Doncaster Rovers U21's 1-0 Burton Albion U21's
Doncaster continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and it really should have been two. A long ball over the top by Jones evaded everyone except Jordan Linley who waited for the ball to settle before releasing a right-footed effort that was inches away from the top left corner.
It was Joe Pugh with the next piece of brilliance, his strength and determination to keep hold of the ball before flashing a cross, across the six yard box unfortunately for him no-one was there to apply the finish.
Referee Carratt finally gave Rovers a well deserved penalty.
McCormick was hacked down inside the 18-yard box by Ben Fox, which gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped the skipper who fired his right-footed penalty wide, which was very unusual by his standards because he is more than reliable from 12 yards.
There was another claim for a penalty on the stroke of full time on the returning Jack McKay, but again Mr.Carratt refused to give what seemed to be a stonewall penalty.
Full Time: Doncaster Rovers U21's 1-0 Burton Albion U21's
DRFC U21's Starting XI: Marosi, Lund, Carberry, Head (Off 65), Jones, P.McKay, Linley, Middleton (C), Pugh, McCormick, Parkin.
DRFC U21's Subs: McLaren, J.McKay (On 65), Mbuti, Williamson.
BAFC U21's Starting XI: Hornby, Doyle, Thorpe, Hallahan, Gatter, Smith, Pearson, Fox (Off 76), Dinanga (Off 60), Shelton, Richards.
BAFC U21's Subs: Sejdic (On 76), Coggins, Troke (On 60).