Made in Doncaster: Rovers under 18s play out entertaining stalemate against local rivals.
Doncaster Rovers U18s 0 Rotherham United U18s 0Football League Youth Alliance North East Conference
Saturday, 9th September 2014
Cantley Park, Doncaster
The Rovers U18s entertained their counterparts from neighbours, Rotherham United and were the better team in the first half without registering on the scoresheet.
In the first five minutes Paul McKay headed over the bar following a corner and the Rovers were set to go on to have a majority of possession in the first half.
However, Rotherham gave them a scare ten minutes from the break when Muskwe hit a good low drive that Jack McLaren had to dive full length to his left to push away.
The best chance of the game came in the 40th minute when Jack McKay robbed Smalley in midfield and went on a clear run on goal. He rounded the Rotherham keeper, Denton, to the right of goal and shot for the empty goal but he was off balance and got no power on the ball as Denton recovered to palm the ball out for a corner.
The second half began with Rotherham pinning Rovers back in their own half but they got no reward for their endeavours as McLaren and his defence kept them at bay.
On the hour Jack McKay had a shot cleared off the line by a defender as the home team gradually got back into the game.
An even game followed with each side having good periods of attack with Denton being busy in the middle of the second period in which he saved well from Gordon at one stage.
Then it was Rovers’ defence that was put under pressure as the last ten minutes came up as they blocked Rotherham’s shots at goal following a series of corners.
Two minutes from the end of normal time Jack McKay’s unlucky day was complete when his shot hit a post and came back into play.
It had been an entertaining game as far as goalless games go.
Rovers – Jack McLaren; Scott Brown, Michael Carberry, Alex Head, Paul McKay ©, Trialist, (Matt Parkin 68), Matt Davies, Jordan Linley, Jack McKay, Liam Mandeville, Aron Gordon (Ryan Wanless 76)
Subs not used – Reece Fielding, Lloyd Henderson
Rotherham United – Peter Denton; Luke Gibson, Daniel Smalley (Jake Fenton 41), Charlie Shelley, Max Hallatt, Bradley Peace-McDonald, Mason Warren, Alex Wiles, Kuda Muskwe (Adam Johnson) , Jerry Yates, Andy Norfolk (Brandon Potts 81)
Subs not used – Fabian Bailey
Referee – Mr S Barratt