Rovers lose out to an older more experienced Notts County U21 side in the Premier League U21 Cup, at Keepmoat Stadium, this afternoon.
FA Premier League U21 Cup
Doncaster Rovers U21 0 Notts County U21 3
On a warm late summer’s afternoon the two clubs met in a competition that they knew little about.
Progression in the competition eventually leads to potential meetings with the U21 teams of the Premier League clubs.
Rovers were up against an older and more experienced team and it showed in the first half as the visitors had much more of the play.
Rovers struggled to keep possession, however good defensive work in the first 40 minutes kept the County at bay.
The only shot at goal that got through came from Greg Tempest in the 37th minute when he hit a tremendous drive from 25yards which cannoned off the bar and went over.
Minutes later a corner from Tempest was met at the far post by Jordan Holt with a free header from 6yards but he put it wide.
Then, in the 44th minute, ROWLAND MURRAY ran on to a through ball, looking suspiciously offside, took it on and slid past the oncoming Jon Maxted.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 0 Notts County 1
Rovers started the second half by winning a corner straight from the kick off, however nothing came from it.
In the 54th minute, Maxted was out quickly to save well at close range from the impressive Romello Nangle.
Minutes later and Fabian Speiss, in the County goal, saved with his legs when Nathan Thomas found space to get in a shot from close range.
On the hour Adam Coombes broke into the area and was brought down by Jordan Binns, a penalty the outcome.
Coombes took the kick himself with his shot hitting the top of the crossbar and out.
In the 63rd minute, however, COOMBES made up for his penalty miss when he received the ball, went past two defenders and toe-poked the ball past the helpless Maxted and just inside the far post.
In the 66th minute, a free kick from the Rovers right was met with a glancing header by Alex Peterson and spilled by Speiss, with the ball then justrolling out past the post.
In the 79th minute the County went further ahead when Jacob Dawson was adjudged to have fouled Rowland Murray in the area. MURRAY stepped up himself to slam the penalty kick past Maxted.
Rovers then had a chance at the other but Nathan Thomas’ shot was blocked and fell to Dawson, on the left, but his shot bounced off the keepers legs and out for a corner.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 0 Notts County 3
Teams – ROVERS – Jon Maxted; Jordan Binns, Liam Wakefield, Luke McCullough, Evan Finnegan; Lewis Ferguson, Harry Middleton, Josh Meade, Nathan Thomas; Chris Whincop, Alex Peterson
Subs used - Billy Whitehouse for Whincop 57 mins; Jacob Dawson for Finnegan 64 mins; Scott Brown for Binns 70 mins;
Subs not used – Mitchell Lund, Jack McLaren gk
Notts County – Malachi Lavelle-Moore, Elliott Hodge, Jack GoldingSubs not used –
- Tyrell Waite for Coombes 86 mins; Jeremy Balmy for Murray 89 mins;
Subs used
Fabian Spiess; Curtis Thompson, Tyler Guy, Malcolm Melvin, Callum Bennett, Jordan Holt, Rowland Murray, Kyle Dixon, Adam Coombes, Greg Tempest, Romello Nangle