A stunning 25-yard thunderbolt from Jordan Linley gives Doncaster U18's the all important three points against Grimsby U18's.
Doncaster before this game have beaten Grimsby on their last three occasions without conceding a goal.Rovers came into the game on the back of a 3-1 win over Notts County while Grimsby came into this game on the back of a 4-2 defeat to local rivals Lincoln City.
It was a very challenging first half for the away side with Grimsby using the weather to their advantage. With the Mariners playing with the wind Doncaster were reduced to playing the ball across the floor but if you follow the Rovers you would know that would not be a problem for the Yorkshire side.
It was Grimsby who had the first attack though, after some impressive individual play by Max Wright he continued his run through the Rovers defence but his shot was well wide of Jack McLaren's left hand post.
After a short spell of dominance from the home side Doncaster got a foothold in the game, a well worked passing game between Alex Head and Aron Gordon produced Rovers' first chance of the game but the finish from Gordon was missing.
Doncaster grew more and more into the game and if it was not for the feet of Grimsby's goalkeeper Jack Pearson, Rovers would have taken the lead.
A fantastic flick on from Jack McKay to Matthew Davies was enough to split the Grimsby defence open, a right footed shot was well saved by Pearson at his near post.
On the stroke of half time it was Grimsby who should have taken the lead through Lewis Benrose, after some great interchange of play between Harry Clifton and Matty Dale down the right hand side.
Dale's inch perfect cross to the back post was met by the left foot of Benrose but luckily for Doncaster he could not guide his shot into the back of the net.
Half Time - Grimsby U18's 0-0 Doncaster Rovers U18's
Doncaster continued their pressure on the home side straight away with Alex Head flashing a shot narrowly over the crossbar, a warning to Grimsby on what Rovers were capable of if they were not closed down.
The Mariners did not read the warning signs after that shot and it did not take Doncaster long to exploit that fact.
Jordan Linley picked up the ball just inside the opposition half, he continued to run into the space that Grimsby had left, with 25 yards remaining he unleashed an unstoppable effort which flew into the top left corner of Jack Pearson's goal.
Doncaster's pressure was too much to handle for the home side and it could have been two shortly after, a whipped ball from the left hand side from Liam Mandeville was flashed across the face of goal but no-one was there to apply the finish.
This became a reoccurring factor late in the second half with Matthew Davies supplying some superb crosses across the face of goal but Rovers were unable to find a way through the tight Grimsby defence.
Grimsby nearly nicked a point with four minutes to spare but manager Paul Stancliffe will be thanking Jack McLaren for the teams victory after a stunning save from a free kick.
Josh Venney's left footed free kick evaded everybody and nearly found its way into the bottom left corner but out of nowhere McLaren's right hand tipped the goal-bound effort out for a corner, a superb piece of goalkeeping.
A solid victory for the Yorkshire side who move onto 23 points in the Youth Alliance League.
Team Lineups-
Grimsby Starting XI: Pearson, Appleby, Crowther, Venney, Gunter, Middleton, Dale (Phillips- 63), Clifton, Benrose, Jennings (York- 72), Wright
Subs not used: Heath-Dury, Wroot, Burchell.
Doncaster Starting XI: McLaren, Greasley, Carberry, Head (Parkin- 72), P McKay, Mbuti, Davies, Linley, J McKay, Mandeville (Wanless- 88), Gordon (McCormick- 80)
Subs not used: Iveson, Barker.