Rovers U18s turned on the style against neighbours Rotherham United further strengthening their claim to the league title.
Saturday, 6 April 2013 at Cantley Park, Doncaster
Football League Youth Alliance North East
DONCASTER ROVERS Youth 4 Rotherham United Youth 0
A bright, sunny morning, although there was a cold breeze gave a hint of spring arriving. There was certainly a spring in the step from the Rovers U18s side against their visitors from down the A630, Rotherham United. Fresh from their demolition of Chesterfield on Tuesday, the same line-up continued in the same vein.
Going on the attack from the start, the Rovers took the lead in the 7th minute when a free kick from Middleton was back-headed by PETERSON just under the bar, with the keeper beaten. Continuing to press they added another in the 15th minute when a good knockdown by Whitehouse was rifled into the net on the half volley from WHINCOP from just outside the penalty area. A third goal arrived in the 21st minute when Middleton, on the right, passed inside to Peterson, who moved it on to WHINCOP, who hit the back of the net from close range. It was past the half hour before the Rotherham lads got a sight of the Rovers when Walker came in from the left and shot but Myers was able to save it quite comfortably. In the 36th minute it looked as though the Rovers would add to their score when Whitehouse got into the penalty area and shot but Thompson, in the Rotherham goal, had closed the distance and blocked the ball, which rebounded back to Whitehouse, who tried again but Thompson was there again to beat the ball away.
The second half opened with the Rovers still on the attack. Whitehouse fired straight at the keeper for him to save but the Rovers were not to be denied and seconds later they made the goal tally four in the 50th minute when WHINCOP completed a well-deserved hat-trick. Past the hour and Rotherham, who had used their allocation of substitutes began to get into the game. Although the game had evened out Myers, in the Rovers goal, wasn’t extended to any great extent because the lads in front of him defended so well. Thompson, in the Rotherham goal had more to do, particularly when he had to push the ball over the bar from a cracking shot by Middleton late in the game.
Next week will decide the winners of the League as the Rovers complete their fixtures with a visit to Scunthorpe, who lie in third place but are not a threat to either Hull City or the Rovers in the matter of who ends up as Champions. But they will be a threat on the field of play so go to it Rovers and end a brilliant season in style.
Rovers team – Callum Myers; Mitchell Lund, Evan Finnegan, Harry Middleton ©, Jordan Binns, Scott Brown, Spencer Lund, Josh Meade, Alex Peterson (Ryan Burnyeat 80 mins), Chris Whincop (Callum Terrell 80 mins), Billy Whitehouse (Lewis Ferguson 73 mins)