Rovers U18s are now 10 games into their 2022/23 Youth Alliance League campaign and are sat in fifth place with two cup competitions still to play for, so ahead of their return to action this month, here’s a recap of the first half of the season.
SEPTEMBER:
ROVERS U18s 5 HULL U18s 0
After an unbeaten start to the new season, Rovers turned their attentions to the Professional Development League Cup after accepting an invite as one of the selected category three teams to compete as they prepared to host category two, Hull City.
Despite being the lower category side, Rovers put on a five-star display to sit top of the their group in yet another competition with Max Adamson netting his second of the campaign to open the scoring before Will Green fired home a free-kick to see his side two goals to the good at the break.
In the second half, Jack Goodman came into his own and contribute on three separate occasions, first setting up Faris Khan to get first of the season and then driving the fourth goal of the game home after a neat set up from Owen Scattergood.
Goodman then smashed home a 25-yard freekick to make it 5-0 to top off the perfect Rovers performance and return to winning ways.
BURTON U18s 0 ROVERS U18s 2
Following a postponement due the death of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, it would be another two weeks before the youth team were back in action but when they were, they were tasked with the challenge of Burton Albion at St. George’s Park.
Back in league action, and with other teams not playing, the game presented Rovers with the chance to climb to the top of the league for the first time this year.
With the pressure of knowing where the result would take them, it took until the hour mark for the first goal to come and when it came, it was none other than Goodman who slotted home to break the deadlock. Faris Khan netted his second goal in as many games to double Rovers lead in the last 20 minutes and give his side the win to reach the summit of the EFL Youth Alliance League.
ROVERS U18s 3 SCUNTHORPE U18s 1
The third and final game of September saw Rovers take on another derby, this time against Scunthorpe United at Cantley Park as the hosts looked to make it through the first two months of the 2022/23 season.
Goalless at the break, Max Adamson came on as a second half substitute and once again made the difference as he opened the scoring with a fired shot from range before Charlie Petch thumped a header home to get his first of the campaign and double Rovers’ lead.
However, just as the game looked comfortable, the Iron converted a penalty to put the pressure on but Adamson broke again down the wing and played the ball onto Goodman to turn home his sixth goal of the season to ensure Rovers took the bragging rights on derby day.
RECORD SO FAR: Played six, won five, drawn one, lost none.
TOP SCORER: Jack Goodman (six).