Brewers defence hold firm to deny dominant Rovers.
Burton Albion U18s – 1 (O’Brien 2’)
Doncaster Rovers U18s – 1 (Longbottom 67’)
Saturday 21st November 2015, 11:00am
Welbeck College, Loughborough
Youth Alliance League
After losing 1-0 in controversial fashion against Carlisle United in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday night, Rovers were looking to put all that behind them and pick up another three points on the road against Burton Albion.
On a wet and windy morning in Loughborough, things did not start exactly how Academy Manager Paul Wilson would have planned as the hosts took the lead on the 2nd minute. A corner from the left hand side from Ben Fox evaded everyone except for Jack O’Brien who was there to tap the ball into an empty net.
Young goalkeeper Louis Jones had a tremendous night on Tuesday against Carlisle making some crucial saves and he was up to his old tricks once again. He was called into action on not once, not twice but three times in the same attack denying Marcus Dinanga twice and Dylan Garnett before the ball was smashed over his crossbar.
Rovers began to dominate possession and three minutes before half time they came close to levelling the score line. A clipped ball to the back post by Ben Greasley was met by the advancing Josh Barker but the defender lashed his effort over Charlie Hornby’s crossbar.
The boys in the red and white hoops on the 35th minute should have put the game back on level terms through Greasley, a lovely fizzed ball across the six yard box by Barker was missed by a stud length by Greasley at the back post.
Half Time: Burton Albion U18s 1-0 Doncaster Rovers U18s
Rovers finally got the equaliser they deserved just after the hour mark, the passion and determination from Barker as he put a delicious ball into the box, it was not defended properly by the Burton centre half paring and it dropped to Will Longbottom who curled the ball into the top left corner.
Another superb attack from the visitor led to them getting another corner in the 78th minute, the ball was whipped to the back post by skipper Linley who found the head of substitute Joe Pugh but his looping header rattled the crossbar.
There was one last opportunity and unfortunately it came for the Brewers, luckily for Doncaster there was Jones in the Rovers goal to make a world class save to deny Cameron Shaw to keep the scores level.
Full Time: Burton Albion U18s 1-1 Doncaster Rovers U18s
BAFC STARTING XI: Hornby, Cotterill, Hutchinson, Fox, Gatter (C), O’Brien, Sejpic, Hammerton (Shaw 72’) Dinanga, Srarra, Garnett.
BAFC SUBS NOT USED: Troke, Walker, Hunt, Smith
DRFC STARTING XI: Jones, Greasley, Barker, Williamson (Pugh 45’), Mbuti, Fielding, Parkin (Walker 67’), Linley (C), Trailist, Trialist (Henderson 65’), Longbottom.
DRFC SUBS NOT USED: Gains
CAUTIONS
60’ Mbuti – Yellow