Doncaster Rovers Youth 1-1 Scunthorpe United Youth
Report from Cantley Park
United's youth team drew 1-1 with their Doncaster Rovers counterparts in an evenly contested game on Saturday morning, with both teams playing some good football and creating chances.
The first real opportunity fell to Iron striker Josh Thomas on 15 minutes after a good throughball from captain Joe Maguire, but Thomas could only shoot wide when well positioned on goal.
An excellent run and cross from winger Aron Wint in the 17th minute saw Maguire shoot high and wide from edge of box.
On 26 minutes, Doncaster had a good chance from a corner but their striker missed his shot when through on Iron keeper Jake Turner.
A minute later and right back Johnathan Williams put in a good cross which saw Maguire head wide.
The visiting team were having a lot of joy and pressure at this stage and another chance went astray when Marcus Gibbs put in Thomas who shot over the Doncaster crossbar.
The Iron should have taken the lead three minutes before half-time, after a flowing move forward.
Wint showed great pace down the right and pulled the ball back to Gibbs. He faked to shoot but played an excellent ball to winger Jack Cross who tamely shot side-footed into the grateful hands of home team keeper Jordan Bradshaw from 10 yards when a blast from his trusty left boot would have opened the scoring.
The Iron had done well in the first half proceedings but had failed to capitalise on their numerous chances.
United started the second half well and Gibbs had a good chance on 48 minutes when he tried to slide home a cross at the near post from Cross.
Gibbs was injured in the process, was unable to continue and the Iron were forced in to a change of personnel with the unfortunate loss of their top scorer. U16 striker James Thomas came on to make his youth team debut.
Doncaster were a lot sharper in the second half and started to cause the visitors problems, creating chances of their own and it was the home team who took the lead on 62 minutes.
United were slow to react defending down their right side when an excellent cross to the far post was headed back for Rovers to stab home the opening goal.
United tried to hit back and did so on 77 minutes when striker Josh Thomas hassled the home defence in to a mistake and Thomas took full advantage tapping the ball home from close range. That made it 1-1, and that'show it ended.
Youth development officer Tony Daws said after the game: "That was probably our best opening first half this season.
"I thought that we played some good quick attacking football at times and looked a threat when we went forward, particularly in the first half and we were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions.
"We were not able to maintain it after half time but credit to Doncaster who made things a lot harder for us in the second half.
"In terms of points on the board, I'm delighted to take a point from today's game. We now have 11 from a possible 15 and its a real confidence boost for our young lads to be top of the league.
"I would have taken that start on the opening day of the season.
"The lads have been terrific so far, there were numerous good individual performances and hopefully the boys have learnt something from today's game."
