Doncaster Rovers U18s secured a 4-3 victory against Barnsley U18s in a pre-season friendly at Cantley Park. Lead coach Ryan Cresswell, who joined the club this summer, praised the team's performance after the match.
Cresswell's Assessment
"I'm really pleased with the workout, the work rate, and the effort levels from everybody," Cresswell said. "The positive result reassures the players that what we're doing on a day-to-day basis is paying its dividends come match day."
The coaching staff had been working with players on attacking tactics during the week, with a focus on overloading wide areas and delivering crosses and cutbacks into the box. These strategies translated into goals against Barnsley.
Defensive Adjustments Needed
Cresswell identified areas for improvement in defence, noting that hasty decisions at the back created chances for the opposition. The friendly was used to rotate the squad during pre-season, with eight different defenders given minutes across the match.