Rovers need one more win to finish as league runners up.
Scunthorpe United U18s - 0
Doncaster Rovers U18s – 1 (Fielding 76’)
Thursday 5th May 2016, 6:30pm
Appleby Frodingham Works Athletic Club, Scunthorpe
Youth Alliance League
Rovers came away from Scunthorpe with a very impressive 1-0 win, it was a set piece that broke the deadlock, a whipped ball in from Matthew Parkin was powerfully headed home by Reece Fielding at the back post.
The opening 15 minutes of the fixture proved to be a very interesting battle with both teams not holding back in some early challenges, however the first opportunity of the game fell to the home side.
A whipped cross from the left wing was initially cleared by the head of Reece Fielding, the ball fell to Ewan Train but the youngster could not keep control his effort and it flew well over the crossbar.
Rovers winger Lloyd Henderson began to be a throne in Scunthorpe’s side as his darting runs and close footwork became frustrating to defend against.
With minutes remaining in the first period goalkeeper Louis Jones had be on his toes to deny an in-swinging effort, a set piece by James Dean-Atkinson looked to be heading into the top right corner but there was Jones to deny the goal bound effort.
Half Time: Scunthorpe United U18s 0-0 Doncaster Rovers U18s
Rovers began to dominate the affair with both defence and attack working in tandem to try and forge an opening, however it was Scunthorpe who had the first chance of the second half.
A long ball over the top of the Rovers defence was picked up by Dean –Atkinson who lashed an effort on target which forced Jones into a smart save down to his right, the ball rebounded out to Jack Turnbull but he could not angle his shot goal-wards.
That passage of play seemed to spur the visitors on and within five minutes they had their first real opening on goal, some lovely build up play by Rovers eventually fell to Cody Prior who smartly took the ball down on his chest and hit a sweet half volley in the goalkeeper’s direction.
Joe Parker in the Scunthorpe goal looked a bit taken back by the effort but the ball eventually flew into his hands.
On the 76th minute the boys in red and white finally had their goal, an in-swinging corner from Matthew Parkin was met on the head by Fielding who managed to evade his marker and power his header into the back of the net via the post.
There was one final chance of the game and it was nearly the equalizer, Ryan Noon who had just entered the fray, drilled a low ball into the box which was not cleared by the defensive line, Dean-Atkinson was there once again but he could not send the ball home.
Full Time: Scunthorpe United U18s 0-1 Doncaster Rovers U18s
SUFC STARTING XI: Parker, McMichael, Bartholomew, Turnbull, Burtroid, Sackey, Hornshaw, Dean-Atkinson, Dyce (C), Sithole, Train.
SUFC BENCH: Ablett, Kelsey, Noon , Knox.
DRFC STARTING XI: Jones, Townrow, Amos, Hillam, Bingley, Fielding, Henderson, Parkin (C), Scattergood, Overton, Prior.
DRFC BENCH: Leverton, James, Harrison, Horton, Barnett.