U14A Doncaster Rovers vs Brandon Park 18th May
On a wet and windy day Doncaster hosted Brandon Park at Anderson Park Reserve.
It was nice to be back under the grandstand for this game with a hot cappuccino! Although it had rained most of Saturday the ground was in good condition. Rovers kicked with the wind and soon had Brandon Park on the defensive due to good passing out of the centre where Joel, Chris, Steve and newcomer Alex were in control.
This provided some opportunities up forward although Brandon Park had their backline well crowded with most of their team. After a couple of fruitless forays, Chris ran the ball down the left and passed to Drew’s advantage, where he attracted the defence to release Steve into the clear on the right. Steve hammered the ball into the goal line where it glanced off a defenders shoulder straight into the net. Good goal Steve even if not in the book and good teamwork Rovers to open up the defence. It was nice to have a score early and allow the team confidence to pass the ball around all over the ground.
The backs were well on top with Michael, Jansen, Nick and Elliot under little pressure and Luke there to mop up the rare long bomb that posed no real threat. With plenty of possession Rovers were able to mount a number of attacks on the BP goal with clean passes across the ground. Drew to Chris but saved by the keeper. Alex to Nick Vass but another shot wide. Joel put in a good through ball but another miss. Jansen to Nick another shot wide, then Damien stepped up, again wide. The ball hardly left the Rovers forward line but play was congested and clean shots were hard to come by. By this stage Phil, Dion, James and Matt were also into the play with good ball control, allowing passing to position but without any further openings in the Brandon Park defence.
Half time: Rovers 1 : Brandon Park 0
The second half continued on like the first with many shots on goal but all wide. Damien had a couple of cracks in a minute, the second banging into the cross bar and bouncing straight out again. Brandon Park continued with long bombs out of defence usually straight to a Rovers defender. Further build ups went unrewarded as Damien headed to Phil but the shot missed. Soon after another cross came into Phil but the shot again went wide. Nick Dinakis was getting some throwing practice, and with a long throw into the box area Joel pounced and right foot volleyed passed a flat footed BP keeper into the net for the “game over” goal.
Rovers continued with solid team play all over the ground and at least another four shots on goal went wide or were stopped by the keeper. This gave a total of 18 shots on goal, so Rovers should have put away a few more than they did. At least the teamwork is still improving and should give confidence to take it right up to the top sides this year.
Scores at full-time: Rovers 2 : Brandon Park 0
GO ROVERS!
