Doncaster Rovers U18s picked up a 5-1 victory over Rochdale in the Youth Alliance League at Club Doncaster Elite Performance Centre. The sides were level at half-time, but Rovers dominated the second half with goals from Jonny Tomlinson, Ethan Hodgett, Lucas McKie (twice), and an own goal.
First Half
Rovers started brightly and created several chances without breaking the deadlock. On six minutes, Myles Walshaw headed narrowly over the bar from inside the area after Lucas McKie's cross from the left. Ashton Swales tested Rochdale goalkeeper Jake Braithwaite on 19 minutes with a curled shot from 20 yards. Potts' effort from 25 yards drew another save from Braithwaite midway through the half, before Swales found McKie on the left side of the box — McKie's curled strike went narrowly over. In the final chance of the half, Walshaw's effort was scrambled away from the six-yard box.
Second Half Dominance
Hodgett's corner from the left was headed home by Tomlinson at the back post six minutes after the interval. Four minutes later, Swales' delivery from the right was turned home by a Rochdale defender in the area for an own goal. Hodgett added a third when goalkeeper George Hague's long-range pass found him in the attacking third, and Hodgett lifted the ball beyond Braithwaite. McKie extended the lead with eight minutes to play, striking into the bottom left corner before scoring his second on 88 minutes after Dylan Hartley's shot came back off the post. Rochdale pulled one back in the final minute via a free-kick under the wall.
Team Changes
Lead professional development coach Ryan Cresswell made three changes from the side that played Stockport County the previous Saturday. Jonny Tomlinson and Ethan Hodgett both returned after travelling with the first team squad, while Ashton Swales came back into attack following a period on the sidelines through injury.
