Boy’s Own stuff as Ball lives the dream on debut

Making your bow is a special enough moment, let alone finding the net.

But the young Doncaster Rovers striker – who only turned 19 last month – got greedy in his maiden first-team appearance for the club after coming on as a late substitute in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy round two northern section victory over holders Chesterfield.

A matter of seconds after entering the fray for veteran Robbie Blake – some 17-and-a-half years his senior – eight minutes from time, the first-year pro clinically headed home Dave Cotterill’s corner with his first competitive touch for the first-team.

It was all the more remarkable, given that Ball had returned only that very day from a loan stint at Evo-Stik South outfit Belper Town. It was true Boy’s Own stuff.

Mansfield-born Ball was also afforded the added gloss of netting against his hometown club’s fiercest rivals in the 1-0 success.

Ball, a prolific scorer for Rovers juniors with 19 goals in 29 games, said: “It’s been a bit weird, really. I was on loan at Belper and that came to an end on Tuesday as I was not really playing there towards the end.

“The gaffer (Dean Saunders) just said to me when I came back: ‘Look, you will be involved for us in the match-day squad against Chesterfield.’ I trained with the first-team and it ended up quite well.

“I did not really twig on I was on the bench until five minutes before kick-off. It took a while to sink in and the nerves really kicked in as I stood on the sidelines waiting to come on. But I enjoyed it.

“I just wanted to get onto the pitch and would have taken just that. The goal was just the icing on the cake.

“I was a nice one to score, I’m Mansfield through and through!”

On his never-to-be-forgotten moment which he will probably recount to his grandkids in many years to come, he added: “I was blinded by the light really. Rob Jones went in front of me and I thought there was a little gap there and luckily, I got on the end of it.

“I think I bring a good attitude and work-rate and bring 110 per cent every time I play. While I bring in a few goals as well.”

While Saunders, no mean goal-poacher in his glittering career, quipped after the game that it would be “downhill from now on” for Ball after his goal-den moment, the Rovers boss was eager to play down his own contribution on the night.

Saunders was the first to admit he got lucky with Ball’s introduction, although what could not be denied was that Rovers thoroughly deserved to progress against the Spireites and avoid the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Maybe Saunders deserved that slice of luck for showing faith in Ball after recalling him from his stint in ‘man’s football’ at Belper.

And one thing he is sure about is that Ball’s feats will act as an incentive for several other Rovers starlets eagerly awaiting their taste of the big time.

Saunders said: “It is downhill from now on for him!

“It was great for all the kids in the Centre of Excellence. We had James Husband on the pitch as well and he made his debut in the Championship when he was 17.

“Then we had Jordan coming on and Harry Middleton was also on the bench on Saturday and Tuesday and he is only 17.

“I think it is a boost for all those young lads. They can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. They will get a chance to play here.

“You need a bit of luck as a manager and it is 60 per cent luck, to be honest. When a substitute comes on like that and wins you the game, it feels great.

“But it was a great header and run if you look at his movement. And you either know where the net is or you do not. He took it like he has been taking them all season.

“I do think the loan spell at Belper did him really good.

“I remember playing in the Welsh League with Swansea’s reserve team and all my apprenticeship was against men. You learn quickly how to look after yourself and being in a dressing room with men and getting different tactics from different managers tightens you up.”

Saunders says Ball has given him food for thought ahead of Saturday’s League One trip to Hartlepool United, especially with Iain Hume away on international duty with Canada. But his major concern is avoiding any unnecessary injuries stacking up.

Paul Quinn and Shelton Martis missed Tuesday’s game and with giant defender Jamie McCombe out for a considerable spell, Saunders is just hoping it is not the precursor to a congested treatment room, something he has managed to avoid, by and large, in 2012-13.He added: “If we have four out, it leaves us threadbare. We have got by with one or two injuries which has been great. I think on last year’s medical bills, we have saved £29,000 already since July. We have spent just 500 quid so far on (treating) injuries.

“That will add up as the season goes on as you cannot avoid certain injuries. But the medical team and fitness coach Mal (Purchase) are doing brilliantly at the minute in keeping the injuries down.”