Yorkshire side win the battle of the roses at Cantley Park.
Doncaster Rovers U18s - 4 (Linley 9' pen 74' pen, McCormick 50', Fielding 72')
Oldham Athletic U18s - 2 (Glackin 8', Stott 25' pen)
Saturday 24th October 2015, 11:00am
Cantley Park Training Ground, Doncaster
Youth Alliance League
It was skipper Jordan Linley who led Rovers U18s to a very hard victory over Oldham Athletic at Cantley Park, the centre midfielder score two penalties in either half to get three important points in the league over Tony Philliskirk's well organised side.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors and it proved to be the opening goal of the game, a long ball over the top was not cleared by the Rovers defence, in came Brendy Glackin to loop a header over the onrushing Johnathan Iveson in the Doncaster goal.
There is a famous saying "You are most vulnerable once you have just scored" and that is exactly what happened less than a minute later, Joe Pugh picked the ball up from kick off and after some tricky footwork he managed to find a way into the box before being taken out by Ryan Leonard.
Up stepped captain Linley who smashed the ball into the top left corner to pull Rovers back level.
On the 25th minute it was then Oldham's turn to get a penalty after, goalkeeper Iveson brought down Rio Murray giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. It was Oldham's captain Jamie Stott who rifled the ball into the back of the net to give the Lancashire side the lead once again.
Rovers began to play some superb intrusive football after that, Michael Carberry played a through ball down the left hand side to Lloyd Henderson who expertly turned his defender before trying to curl his effort into the top right corner, but the youngster's shot was wide of the mark.
As this game approached half time there was a final opportunity for the hosts to pull the game level and it fell to Will Longbottom, the winger picked the ball up on the half way line and after some silky skills he easily evaded three players but he wasted his opportunity as he fired well over the crossbar.
Half time: Doncaster Rovers U18s 1-2 Oldham Athletic U18s
Academy manager Paul Wilson made a decisive change at half time to bring Joey McCormick on in place of Henderson and it proved to be a fantastic decision. A ball from the right side from Ben Greasley found the advancing striker who caught the ball lovely on the volley giving Chris Renshaw in the Oldham goal no chance.
On the 54th minute, Rovers had a huge penalty appeal turned down by referee D.Jones and it was as stonewall as they come. A strong challenge on Pugh was deemed not to be a foul even though you could hear the clear contact that was made by the defender on Pugh's shin pad.
Rovers should have been in front through Kevin Mbuti, the central defender who was up from the back managed to find some space in the penalty area, he unleashed a stunning effort that was well saved by Renshaw.
The hosts finally took the lead on the 72nd through full back Reece Fielding, some good play by Pugh once again as he produced a low shot looking for the bottom right corner. Renshaw pushed the ball away but not to safety as it fell to Fielding who crashed his effort against the crossbar which luckily ended up in the empty net.
Less than two minutes later Rovers strengthen their lead as referee Mr Jones awarded the hosts another penalty making that three penalties in the fixture, Carberry did superbly well to get into the opponents box before a lazy challenge from Lee Knight gave Linley the opportunity to grab his second of the game.
It was a sense of deja vu as Linley smashed the ball past Renshaw in the same corner he had previously gone. Rovers had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men as Pugh limped off with a hamstring injury but the home side held on to pick up another three points in their impressive start to the league season.
Full Time: Doncaster Rovers U18s 4-2 Oldham Athletic U18s
DRFC STATING XI: Iveson, Greasley, Carberry (Walker 74'), Williamson, Mbuti, Fielding, Parkin, Linley (C), Pugh, Longbottom, Henderson (McCormick 45') (Barker on for McCormick 58')
DRFC SUBS NOT USED: Jones, Gains
DRFC CAUTIONS: Mbuti and Longbottom
OAFC STARTING XI: Renshaw, Leonard, Middleton (Lent 76') King, Stott (C), Read, Knight, Uche, Murray, Glackin, Fallon
OAFC SUBS NOT USED: Healy, O'Neil, Kay
OAFC CAUTIONS: Middleton