Two goals in four minutes gives Doncaster Under 18's three valuable points
It was a game between two teams, both who knew where the goal was, with Doncaster boasting 19 this season and Notts County 18.Paul Stancliffe’s side were looking for their fourth win on the bounce, as a win for Notts County would see them go top of the North East Youth Alliance league table.
The Magpies started the game fractionally better than Doncaster but it was Rovers who produced the first piece of brilliance.
Pacey winger Aron Gordon picked the ball up inside the County half and danced his way through the opposition. Finding space to shoot, he released a left footed shot but it went well over the bar.
It didn’t take the visitors long to get their first chance of the game, some quick possession football led to Colby Bishop pulling the ball back to the edge of the 18 yard box for Reece Fyfe to unleash a shot that was only just over the bar.
On the 16th minute Rovers broke the deadlock with a goal that Monty Parkes will not want to remember, a simple back pass by Rhys Myers was miss controlled by the Notts County ‘keeper. Despite his best efforts to chase the ball down, the home side took the lead.
However, Rovers lead only lasted eight minutes when Luther Wildin lost Michael Carberry down the right wing and played a delightful ball to the near post, captain Colby Bishop caught the ball on the volley, giving goalkeeper Jack McLaren no chance.
Following County’s equaliser it was a tight affair with both sides trying to break each other down. The Magpies nearly went in a goal to the good at half time, after a cross from the left hand side by Jake Payling found the head of Bishop whose header narrowly missed the left hand post.
Half Time score: Doncaster Rovers U18’s 1-1 Notts County U18’s
Very much like the first, the second half started in quick and positive fashion but it was Notts County who were the better of the two sides.
Rovers ‘keeper McLaren produced two wonderful saves in the first five minutes which ultimately kept the home side in the game at such an early stage.
First he denied Lartey Sarpong straight from the kick off, and five minutes later was called into action again after Jordan Richard's shot looked destined for the back of the net. McLaren somehow got his fingertips to the ball and kept the scores level.
On the 64th minute Rovers eventually took the lead and it was another mistake by Parkes who missed his punch from a Matthew Davies corner, the ball hit the inside of the back post and fell to Gordon who applied the finish from close range.
Five minutes later Rovers killed the game off as they added a third. A long ball over the top by McLaren was flicked on by striker Liam Mandeville into the path of Davies who executed a delicious lob over onrushing Parkes.
Doncaster continued to shut out the Notts County attack with captain Paul McKay showing his ever growing potential and the back four never looking troubled.
A good win for Rovers sees them keep the pressure on Scunthorpe United and Hull City who occupy 2nd and 1st place respectively in the Football League Youth Alliance league.
Lineups-
DRFC STARTING XI: McLaren, Greasley, Carberry, Head, McKay (C), Brown, Davies, Parkin, Linley, Mandeville, Gordon.
DRFC SUBS NOT USED: Walker, Iveson, Fielding, Barker, Williamson.
NOTTS COUNTY STARTING XI: Parkes, Rigby (Richards- 71), Payling, Richards, Myers, Layton, Fyfe, Wildin (Blainey- 71), Bishop (C) McCartney (Brown- 45) Sarpong.
NOTTS COUNTY SUBS NOT USED: Symons Dearle, Richards