All square in the Yorkshire derby at Cantley Park.
Doncaster Rovers U18s – 1 (Longbottom 64’)
Bradford City U18s – 1 (Cissa 26’)
Saturday 30th January 2016, 11:00am
Cantley Park, Doncaster
Youth Alliance League
Revenge was certainly on the cards for Doncaster as Bradford put four goals past them in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Rovers were largely the better team throughout the game but they could not find that all important second goal.
The hosts began the first period very brightly and they had an early chance to break the deadlock, a chipped ball over the top by Conner Williamson was picked up by Ryan Wanless who made a jinxing run through the Bradford defence, unfortunately the youngster could not make his effort count.
On the 26th minute Bradford were awarded a penalty, there was a massive mix up between Matthew Parkin and goalkeeper Louis Jones.
In nipped Sumaili Cissa who got a toe to the ball but as he was about to go round the goalkeeper he was clipped by Jones giving the referee no option but to point to the spot, Cissa picked himself up and rifled his penalty into the top right corner.
Rovers had the final chance of the first half and it came from Parkin, a clipped ball over the top by Reece Fielding was picked up by the advancing midfielder but he could not sort his feet out and his effort rolled harmlessly wide.
Half-time: Doncaster Rovers U18s 0-1 Bradford City U18s
The first chance of the second half fell to the home side as some lovely play from Will Longbottom found wing back Michael Carberry, the talented left footer chopped a defender before smashing his effort just wide of Chandler Hallwood’s right post.
On the 59th minute Rovers should have been level, once again Carberry put the Bradford defence under immense pressure which saw him nick the ball off them outside their own 18-yard box, he then drilled the ball across the six-yard box but Ben Greasley at the back post could not get his studs to the ball.
Five minutes later Rovers dominance paid off, goalkeeper Jones made up for his first half mistake as he played a long ball over the top which evaded all of Bradford’s defence, Longbottom raced through and chipped the onrushing keeper.
With 10 minutes of the game remaining Rovers could have had the game wrapped up but for a stunning save from Hallwood.
A midfield scramble was eventually flicked on by Longbottom who found substitute Lloyd Henderson, he raced through unchallenged but a fantastic save from the left hand of Hallwood tipped the ball onto the post which kept the score level.
There was one last chance of this exciting Yorkshire derby and it was for the visitors, goal scorer Cissa raced through the sleeping Doncaster defence but luckily for Rovers their goalkeeper was alert to make a brilliant one-on-one save to deny Cissa his second of the game.
Full-time: Doncaster Rovers U18’s 1-1 Bradford City U18s
DRFC STARTING XI: Jones, Greasley, Carberry, Williamson, Mbuti, Fielding, Parkin, Linley (C), Longbottom, Wanless (Henderson 55’), Walker.
DRFC SUBS NOT USED: Keegan, Morris, James, Fletcher.
BCFC STARTING XI: Hallwood, Lazenby (Powell 72’), Windle, Laird, Omulokun, Boateng, Moilanen, Mellor (C), Payne, Cissa, Sunderland (Taglione 60’).
BCFC SUB NOT USED: Wright
CAUTIONS:
Yellow- Carberry – DRFC
Yellow – Greasley – DRFC
Yellow – Boateng - BCFC