Rotherham United 3-2 U18s,
Sheffield Hallam University,
Thursday, 29th April, 1pm KO.
Benjamin Quartey and Wilfred Frimpong goals put the U18s ahead twice ahead against Championship side Rotherham United but a 90th minute free-kick gave victory to the Millers.
Rotherham scored three times in the final 12 minutes, earning their comeback.
Harvey Kelly was evidently disappointed in himself for conceding the first goal while the third he could do nothing about.
Rotherham created the first chance, a ball out of defence, over the top of the Celts’ left wingback led to a cut back into the box but it was cleared by Jacob Smith as the first defender.
There was then a repeat of the first chance, on 11 minutes, this time called offside.
A minute later and Sidibe argued about taking a free-kick, left of centre on the edge of the box but captain Mannings outranked him, curling over.
Rotherham’s two chances from counter attacks from long-ball over the top was due to the U18s’ quick pressing of their opposition, not allowing them any time on the ball.
Rotherham did get into the box on 15 minutes, a cross from the left was met by the tall no. 9 but he headed over.
Frimpong again pressed his man on and won a throw-in on 20 minutes, taking quickly into Mannings with Rotherham unaware. The captain passed left into the run of Omoruyi who knocked the ball past one defender, advanced to 20 yards out but hooked his left-footed shot wide of the far post.
Rotherham tried another cross from the left, low in-between ‘keeper Kelly and the group in the box but there was no touch at goal.
The no. 9 was winning everything aerially and had two chances on 21 minutes. His first, a knock-down into the centre of the box had no support. His second followed a miss-kick by Odin but the angle was then too tight at the right post and the forward could only nudge the ball into Kelly’s hands.
Kouakou won the ball this time, 29 minutes in, the loose ball ending with Sidibe with space but he hooked wide of the right post.
Sidibe then created his own chance, intercepting possession on the right. On the half-way line, he knocked the ball ahead and past a defender and picked up pace at his first opportunity in the game. Entering the box, his cut back only found a defender.
Rotherham countered down the right, advancing without any press and resulting in shooting hard and over from outside the box.
Farsley then went closest so far on 32 minutes.
Sidibe found Frimpong overlapping down the right. He passed central to Fialdini who’s first touch with the outside of his boot, knocked it right and away from his marker. There was one bounce before the shot across goal which forced the ‘keeper to tip wide.
Rotherham again created out wide, the right full-back was allowed to advance before playing the winger in-behind on the touchline. A low cross to the tall forward was shot at goal, first time but it was blocked by his own midfielder.
Sidibe, again down the right, cut inside on his left on 42 minutes but again hooked wide of the near post.
Rotherham finished the half with another cross, the right winger beating his man before cutting back to the no. 9 but it was behind his advancing run.
The Millers had the first chance of the second-half also, a shot inside the left of the box, blocked by Smith.
Quartey’s chip then gave the U18s the lead on 54 minutes.
Odin’s direct, precise ball out of defence split the left centre-back and full-back and left Quartey facing up with the outrushing goalkeeper. 30 yards out, he cut inside, round the ‘keeper and chipped the ball over covering defenders, the ball dropping just before the cross bar.
Fialdini, left of centre on the edge of the box, on 56 minutes, cut back to Sidibe but his shot was blocked.
Rotherham were awarded a penalty on 58 minutes after Mannings was adjudged to have fouled, despite protests.
The taker went left and put it just wide of the post.
Rotherham played a through ball into the box on 68 minutes, the shot across goal went past ‘Kelly but also the right post.
Mannings hit the post on 73 minutes.
Holding up the ball inside the box, falling back into his marker, facing away from goal, he hooked his right leg round the ball which rebounded off the near left post.
Rotherham equalised with 12 minutes to go.
Another cross from the right was flicked on by a head, the ball slipping through ‘Kelly’s arms with the ‘keeper clearly disappointed with himself.
The U18s and Frimpong replied immediately a minute later.
A pass from the ‘keeper into a midfielder was intercepted by Frimpong and from the edge of the box, his left-footed shot found the top left corner with plenty of power.
Rotherham again equalised with 7 minutes to go.
Crossing from the left this time, the ball was flicked by a boot, tipped by ‘Kelly down to his left but the ball stayed inside the right-hand post.
Rotherham’s from the edge of the box on 87 minutes was matched by ‘Kelly this time, successfully tipping round the left post.
But Rotherham eventually took the lead.
A free-kick from a tight-angle from the right travelled over the group in the box, hitting the inside of the far post and behind Kelly.
Felix had the final chance of the game to level for Farsley, right of centre on the edge of the box, shooting hard but it went wide of the far post.
Farsley academy’s next match is the U16s hosting Yorkshire Elite Academy in the North-East and Yorkshire U16s Whites Cup on Saturday, 1st May at Bradford Academy, 10am kick-off.