Rovers claim all three points in South Yorkshire derby.
Rotherham United U18s – 0
Doncaster Rovers U18s – 1 (Ponticelli 61’)
Saturday 5th December 2015, 11:00am
Roundwood Sports Complex, Rotherham
Youth Alliance League
On a very windy morning in Rotherham, Doncaster Rovers U18s picked up another three points to strengthen their claim for the top spot at Christmas. The visitors were dominant from start to finish, U18s manager Paul Stancliffe after the game was delighted with his team’s performance but did state that his side should have scored a few more.
It took 15 minutes for the first chance of the game, a whipped ball to the back post by Ben Greasley was inches away from the foot of onrushing Will Longbottom but the youngster could not poke the ball home.
Another attack down the left hand side but this time it was Longbottom trying to get his team going, the striker drilled the ball towards the penalty spot where trailist Jordan Ponticelli was situated but he could not get his volleyed effort on target.
Rovers continued to dominate and once again they were close to taking the lead, some tika-taka football from the visitors created another opportunity for Longbottom who made managed to lose his marker but he fired over Laurence Bilboe’s crossbar.
Matty Parkin had the last chance of the first half and it was the best of the lot. The midfielder used his quick feet to fashion a chance for himself, unfortunately his powerful effort clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over.
Half-time: Rotherham United U18s 0-0 Doncaster Rovers U18s
Rotherham’s first chance of the game came on the 47th minute through skipper Fabian Bailey, he unleashed an effort from 25-yards but there was Louis Jones who got down smartly to make the save.
Just after the hour mark Rovers broke the deadlock, a throw in was flicked on by the head of substitute Lloyd Henderson. The ball landed in the path of Jordan Ponticelli who got to the ball before the keeper, the striker managed to chip the stranded Bilboe to put the visitors one-up.
Three minutes later Rotherham should have brought it back level, a wind-swept free-kick from Bailey was floated to the back post and the ball was met by the head of Bradley Peace-McDonald but he could not direct his header on target.
The Millers began to get a foothold in the game, another long ball over the top of the Rovers defence, it was picked up by Kudakwashe Muskwe who tried to lob Jones who was off his line but it did not have the accuracy it desired to ripple the back of the net.
Rovers could have doubled their lead on the 75th minute, a corner from Parkin was met by the head of defender Reece Fielding who made his way up from the back, his header clipped the top of the crossbar and bounced out for a goal kick.
Rotherham had their best chance of the game with minutes of the half remaining, it was another whipped set piece from Bradley Potts, he found Ross Dickinson who had an open net but the defender could not find the back of the net.
Full-time: Rotherham United U18s 0-1 Doncaster Rovers U18s
RUFC STARTING XI: Bilboe, Bailey, Smalley, Dickinson, Peace-McDonald, Rose (Saxton 45’), Bailey-King, Adeyemi (Potts 79’), Muskwe, Wiles, Redmayne (Johnson 22).
RUFC SUBS NOT USED: Fidler and Abraham.
DRFC STARTING XI: Jones, Greasley, Williamson, Mbuti, Barker, Fielding, Parkin, Walker, Ponticelli, Gains (Henderson 60’), Longbottom.
DRFC SUBS NOT USED: Sampson, Morris, Fletcher.
CAUTIONS
85’ Williamson – DRFC – Yellow
85’ Bailey-King – RUFC - Yellow