Rovers U18s fell to an unfortunate loss against Mansfield Town in the EFL Youth Alliance League after conceding two late goals at the RH Academy.
Frank Sinclair’s side played out a fairly even affair throughout the game and were even on top at times but two moments of confusion were the youth team’s undoing in the final 15 minutes.
The result sees Rovers remain 10th in the league table but with games in hand on the majority of the division, the youngsters will look to continue their pursuit of making up ground.
Rovers started brightly in Nottinghamshire and great determination from Kenneth Imariagbe and Jaiden Campbell-Ryce won the ball back off the keeper before the latter took on the game’s first shot but it was saved down low.
In the very next minute, the hosts were forward themselves and the visitors had to clear the ball off the line twice before eventually removing the danger.
Skipper Justin Bennett and a Stags player entered the book for the scuffle and the feisty kick to the game increased a few notches.
Another 15 minutes later Imariagbe continued to be a nuisance and saw a right-footed effort saved down to the keeper’s left before the striker was booked for an apparent dive despite looking to have been tagged inside the box.
The final minutes saw a goalmouth scramble eventually collected by U16 Harry Gardham and a Mansfield shot in stoppage time from 10-yards out sent down the M1 to see the sides level at the interval.
At the start of the second half, Sinclair made his first change to see Deshaun Musgrave-Dore replace Campbell-Ryce and the opening spell of the half saw Rovers really applying the pressure down the wings.
There was then a period of end-to-end play and with almost every Rovers body forward, Freddie Allen picked up a booking for stopping a Mansfield counter-attack.
Another turn to the bench saw Kasper Williams replaced by Finn Shone but five minutes later the hosts were in front.
A cross in from the left caused confusion between the goalkeeper and Rovers’ back line and left Abdullah to turn in at the back post.
Further changes followed for the youth team as Kenzie Dillon and Rhomani Murray replaced Jamie Tomlinson and Harry Wood respectively as Sinclair’s side searched for an equaliser.
However, the next goal went the way of the hosts as Will Green gave away a late penalty and Abdullah thumped the ball into the top right corner.
The visitors then threw everything at Mansfield’s goal but it was all in vain as the Stags took all three points away from the game.
Rovers U18s return to the Hoober Homes Elite Performance Centre next weekend for more EFL Youth Alliance League action as they take on Harrogate Town on Saturday, September 30 (11am kick-off).