Rovers U18's advance to the next round of the FA Youth cup with defeat over Morecambe at Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster Rovers- 3 (Mandeville- 4, J.McKay- 40, P.McKay- 69)Morecambe- 1 (Kelleher- 75)
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Monday 3rd November 2014
FA Youth Cup
Rovers youngsters advance to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a comfortable victory over Morecambe.
Rovers got off to the best possible start when they went a goal up after just four minutes.
Liam Mandeville received the ball from Jack McKay 25 yards out, and spotting Will Kitchen off his line he curled a superb effort into the top corner to put the home side ahead.
Chances continued to come for Rovers. Twice Davies deliverd balls into the box that were headed over the bar by Alex Head, before Mandeville went close again as he cut inside to shoot but saw his shot blocked by some good Morecambe defending.
The first effort on goal for the Shrimps came on 27 minutes as Kelleher received the ball and tried his luck from distance but his effort flew over the bar.
Rovers felt they had a penalty claim as Jack McKay looked to have been brought down in the area from behind before releasing his shot, but the referee waved away the protests.
Five minutes later McKay doubled the home sides lead as he picked up the ball on the right and beat two defenders before squeezing the ball past Kitchen into the bottom corner.
Half time: Rovers 2-0 Morecambe
Morecambe started the second half well and a good chance went begging when Kelleher found himself through on goal, but a poor first touch saw the ball go out of play without testing keeper Jack McLaren.
Morecambe then had another chance to get back in the game as Bondswell found himself through on goal but McLaren was quick off his line to deny the visitors.
Defender Paul McKay then put the game beyond doubt as he got on the end of a low ball across the box from Davies and easily finished.
After a period of dominance by Rovers, Morecambe pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go as they hit the home side on the counter attack. As a Rovers attack broke down, Morecambe came away with posession and Kelleher finished into the bottom corner after breaking through the defence.
Proving to be the last chance of the game, the referee blew for full time and the victory ensured that Rovers advance to the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
Team Details-
Rovers- Jack McLaren, Ben Greasley, Michael Carberry, Alex Head, Paul McKay (c), Matty Davies (Aron Gordon- 81), Matt Parkin, Jack McKay, Jordan Linley, Liam Mandeville (Ryan Wanless- 84)
Unused Subs- Joshua Barker, Will Longbottom, Louis Jones
Cautions- Jordan Linley
Morecambe- Will Kitchen, Tyler Edwards, Jim Smith, Ross Hilton, Adam Reynolds (c), Jay Roberts (Jack Preston- 76), Cameron Rigby (Tom Cowley- 65), Charlie Bailey, Jack Kelleher, Nathan Bondswell, Aaron Dotse Domeyle
Unused Subs- Max Dovey, Lewis Masters, Lewis Tomlinson