Scunthorpe United 0 v Doncaster Rovers 1 - FLYA (NE)

Thursday 6th May 2016
Football League Youth Alliance (North East)
at Mumby Hall Sports Ground, Appleby Frodingham FC
Scunthorpe United (0) 0
Doncaster Rovers (0) 1
Reece Fielding 83
FLYA (NE) Table and stats HERE
More pictures HERE

Scunthorpe United:
Joe Parker, Lewis McMichael, Kane Bartholemew, Jack Turnbull, Lewis Butroid, Leslie Sackey, George Hornshaw, James Dean Atkinson, Jack Dyche, Fortunate Sitole, Ewan Train
Subs - Harvey Ablett, Adam Kelsey, Ryan Noon, Alex Knox
Doncaster Rovers:
Louis JOnes, Keegan Townrow, Danny Amos, Lewis Hillam, Kane Bingley, Reece Fielding, Lloyd Henderson, Matt Parkin,Lewis Scattergood, Matt Overton, Cory Pride
Subs - Morgan James, James Leveraton, Jack Harrison, Brandon Horton, Cameron Barnett

Doncaster Rovers still have an away game to play at Grimsby Town on Saturday, where, if they win, they can leapfrog over Scunthorpe into second place, by virtue of nicking three points off of the Iron tonight.

There is also one final fixture between Hartlepool United and Bradford City to complete, that could see Pools take second place instead.

But even if Rovers and Hartlepool both win their outstanding fixtures, they will still finish three points clear of FLYA (NE) champions Mansfield Town, who made sure that the title was theirs by winning comfortably at Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Overall, it's been a very close, nip and tuck league campaign this season, with not very much to choose between the majority of the sides in this division.

Of course, development football is, as the name suggests, about the nurturing of young talent, but the next step up for the lads who make the grade at this stage of their steep learning curve id the Football League, so it is also just as important that they grasp the importance of developing winning habits, in what is, in essence, a results based industry. Because lets face facts, any chairman who says he isn't bothered about results as long as his team are playing the beautiful game in the right manner, will soon be punting any manager who fulfills the tippy-tappy football criteria, but whose team is getting turned over every week.
The secret is to get the balance right and tonight's two teams are a good example of how you go about creating the correct mix.

Joe Parker

I've written a lot of notes over the course of tonight, that would possibly be of no relevance, or even the slightest bit of interest to the majority of people who read this blog, as part of a lengthy essay I'm supposed to be completing any time soon, as part of a coursework project I'm undertaking, but I'll skip all of the jargon and theory and cut to the chase for purposes of presenting the truncated facts and salient points.

'Scunny' had enough chances over the course of ninety minutes to have comfortably won this game, but 'Donny' kept plucking away and upped their game in the last twenty minutes, which ultimately led to Reece Fielding netting the only goal of the game from a back post header after Matt Parkin had dropped a left wing corner into the six yard box. 

The Iron keeper did all he possibly could to turn the ball away from his goal, but in spite of his valiant efforts efforts it ended up in the roof of the net.

Scunthorpe's main target man Jack Dyche took a knock as he challenged Rovers keeper Louis Jones for a high ball midway through the opening forty minutes and he was still limping at half time, when he was replaced by Harvey Ablett.
Leslie Sackey, a forward by trade, had put in a great first half in the middle of United's defence, but he was moved up front after the break, where he linked up well with the ever industrious Fortunate Sitole.
Rovers Lewis Hillam looked to be a threat, getting forward from midfield in support of his attackers, along with Keegan Townrow who got down the wing from his right back berth and provided a decent supply of crosses to Lewis Scattergood and Matt Overton.

Reece Fielding

Even in stoppage time the home side were peppering the Rovers goal with the ball, but it just wasn't going to go in for them tonight and the final action of the game, that saw Matt Parkin nudged the ball just inches wide of the upright typified Scunthorpe's night. 

That's football for you and another lesson learned the hard way.

Rovers kept things simple against a team who they knew would pose a real threat and did all the simple and basic stuff right, which turned out to be a winning game plan.

Cory Prior had shown some good touches for the visitors and is prepared to run at and take on defenders, but in the end it was a good old fashioned, tried and tested, back post corner towards an incoming centre half that won the day.

Well done to both sides who've impressed me this season when I've seen them in action.

This academy league, with players joining clubs on a two year cycle, is reaping rewards for the clubs, players and coaches who are taking part in it... building upwards is the future.

FT: SCunthorpe United U18 0 v Doncaster Rovers U18 1

The aliens have landed in 'Sunny Scunny'