Icarus lined up against a youthful and energetic looking Doncaster Rovers Academy side made up of 1st and 2nd year YTS. The pitch was immaculate and Icarus were raring to go after a very comprehensive warm up from Andy Kuchta who coaches the RAF Under 23s. Despite a bright start from Icarus, who were keen to push on from some impressive results of late, it was Doncaster that took the initiative and broke forward with some excellent passing football. The movement and speed of these youngsters was particularly impressive and it soon paid dividends for the home side. They broke from a corner, nipping past a few tackles and a calmly struck drive saw the ball nestle into the bottom right hand corner leaving Mark Bowden in goal for Icarus helpless. This early lead was soon doubled when a break following an unsuccessful Icarus corner resulted in an identical shot fly past the Icarus goalkeeper and go in off the right hand upright. Icarus seemed unable to cope with the movement and close control of the Academy side and went down 3-0 within 18 minutes. Doncaster intercepted a ball on the half-way line and set off in attack down the right. They had a man over on the right who wasn't needed and the centre forward cut inside and struck a left foot shot into the net past a diving Mark Bowden who was unlucky to not keep the shot out after getting a hand to the ball.

Icarus heads didn't drop and they continued to try and find their feet. A few corners and long throws caused problems for the home side and Icarus had a reasonably good shout for a penalty with some excessive wrestling to the ground of Jim Schofield as he flicked the ball on at the near post. They were soon rewarded however after a free kick was awarded to the visiting side just inside the Doncaster half. An excellent ball from Joe Griffin found the Icarus skipper, Jim Schofield, unmarked in the box after the Doncaster Rovers defence had unsuccessfully sprinted out to try and spring the offside trap. With his head, Schofield calmly guided the ball into the bottom left hand corner with a deft flick to make the score 3-1. With the game split into three 30 minute periods this is how it sat at the interval.

Icarus looked more confident at the beginning of the second period and began to play some attractive football. Goal scoring chances came and went for Dan Lowes and Andrew Martins-Tonks was unable to get the ball out of his feet to find a shot from the edge of the area. Icarus were soon back on the back foot when Doncaster moved the ball inside from their left wing and a pin-point driven cross to the back post saw their right winger volley over mark Bowden into the roof of the net to extend their lead. Soon after and closing in on the end of the second period a break down the right resulted in a Doncaster cross clip the studs of an Icarus defender and make its way in off the far post. So, 5-1 down at the end of the second period and not looking good.

Andy Kuchta joined the Icarus campaign in the centre of defence replacing Trev Davis and the extra voice at the back helped gel the Icarus team. Icarus started to press the opposition and forced them into some costly mistakes. Pressure led to a corner in the first couple of minutes and a good delivery, flicked on at the near post, found its way to Scott Hyneman at the back post who calmly volleyed home with his side foot. Icarus' tails were now up and they were soon only 2 goals behind after a ball over the top was delicately placed past the out-rushing Doncaster keeper by Craig Percival.

Doncaster were restricted to long range shots from outside the area as Icarus continued to push forward. John Hetherington came on in the right wing position to utilise his pace and Scott Hyenman moved back to left back after Rich Lowe had to retire from the game with a slight knock. Hyneman fitted in well and continued the good work that the Icarus defence were now producing. Shortly afterwards after a mix up from the Doncaster midfield Ben Joyce broke from the centre of the park and after a couple of one-twos with Percival and a failed clearances from the Doncaster defence he found the ball spill out only 9 yards from goal. Joyce managed to slide and put the ball home before the opposition's keeper could get his hands to it.

The 3 unanswered goals in this final 30 minute period led to a nail-biting last 10 minutes for Doncaster but despite continued pressure, Icarus failed to get a clear cut chance to find an equaliser. It was a hard fought game and one that both sides will have learnt something from. It was a good test for Icarus and a positive performance that will lead into their first competitive cup final for a number of years.

Team: M Bowden, D Turner, R Lowe, T Davies (Andy Kuchta 60), J Schofield, J Griffin, Andrew Martins-Tonks (Scott Hyneman 60), B Joyce, Gino Portaluri, Criag Percival (Dan Lowes 45), D Scott (John Hetherington 75)