I don’t particularly like football. I often find it mind numbingly boring, predictable (especially Barnsley at home) and the politics that surround it completely turns me off. Continue reading “Barnsley 1-1 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
Rovers were unconvincing on their visit to rock-bottom Crewe, but managed to grab a share of the points after a late goalmouth scramble was ended emphatically by captain Jamie Coppinger rifling the ball home. Continue reading “Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
For the second time this season Rovers failed to capitalise when awarded a penalty, or take advantage of the benefit of an extra man. In five crazy second-half minutes the game swung on a penalty miss and a world-class goal from Jamie Murphy. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Sheffield United: 250 word match report”
Rovers traveled to face Bradford with neither side on form, and each in need of a result. The game began quietly with neither side creating a chance in the first quarter, with the only incident seeing Cedric Evina stretchered off. Continue reading “Bradford City 1-2 Doncaster Rovers; 250 word match report”
The weekend is almost here, and so we’re all excited at the prospect of football right? I mean what could be more thrilling than the prospect of a visit from the fallacy of a football club and shadow of credibility that is MK Dons? Especially coming as it does, on the back of two successive defeats? Wait, why are you crying? Where are you going? Come back, put that Radiohead CD down. Continue reading “popular STAND fanzine issue 72”
After accidentally buying a pair of kids’ gloves from the club shop, I arrived in the ground three minutes late, to be greeted by Jed Steer picking the ball out of the net and a huddle of celebrating blue shirts.
Rovers responded quite well and had most of the ball in the first half. Twice they came close to equalising; first when a goal mouth scramble saw a close range shot cleared off the line and secondly when some comedy goalkeeping from former Rover Gary Woods ended in the ball bouncing over his head only for Nathan Tyson to see his shot blocked.
Orient were dangerous on the counter attack, and worryingly still looked the more likely to score. Harry Forrester, already booked, was lucky to stay on the pitch after raising his hands following a bad tackle just before half time.
Ten minutes into the second half Forrester was duly hauled off for Kyle Bennett, and just as Rovers started to take control local boy Darius Henderson crashed a 25 yard strike past a despairing Steer.
The introduction of Curtis Main for Marc De Val on the hour mark added an attacking impetus but the best efforts of Jamie Coppinger, Richie Wellens, Tyson and Bennett were undermined by some comedy defending, particularly from the woeful (albeit out of position) Reece Wabara.
A couple of late Bennett pot shots and a half-hearted appeal for a penalty for hand-ball were ultimately all Rovers had to show for another disappointing night.
by Rob Johnson
Fleetwood Town’s Highbury makes me ponder what Belle Vue might have now looked like, if some money had been chucked at it. It’s a ground that screams ‘non-league’, although that might just be the wind bouncing off the Irish sea – football grounds do of course not have the ability to vocalise, let alone make critical judgements – even if it’s obviously been quite significantly scrubbed up on Fleetwood’s astonishing charge up the leagues. Continue reading “Fleetwood Town 3-1 Doncaster Rovers; 250 word match report”
I offered to write this before I knew my view of the left flank would be obscured by an iron girder, so can only imagine what Reece Wabara did in the first half.
Eight minutes in Rovers’ second corner was celebrated enthusiastically by the travelling support, who let off a smoke bomb. I always think corner number five is the one worth getting worked up about, myself.
On twenty minutes a scramble in the Scunthorpe box saw an effort by Harry Forrester blocked, hooked clear and suddenly Rovers were outnumbered at the back, however Jed Steer made a breathtakingly good save, full-length to his right.
Shortly after, in worryingly similar style, one pass unlocked Rovers’ defence, one turn lost three defenders and Rory Fallon’s accurate daisy-cutter nestled in the bottom corner. It wasn’t totally undeserved.
Rovers soon woke up and when Scunthorpe failed to clear a corner Jamie Coppinger swivelled and hooked home in super slow-motion to equalise. Behind the girder I imagine Dickov and Horton celebrated with some tag-team break-dancing.
Into the second half and Furman won a crunching tackle in the middle, drove forward and played a perfectly weighted pass for Tyson who finished like Thierry Henry.
Rovers dominated for the remainder, but Scunthorpe still produced one or two heart in mouth moments highlighting that defensively we are still frail. Overall, a deserved victory, with some outstanding individual displays and neat one touch football to get excited about. Marc de Val is ace and, today, so was Furman.
by Dan Jennings
A pleasantly mild but satisfyingly moist afternoon greeted the teams like a buxom barmaid, eager to please. Rovers’ recent form has been fairly flaccid, but after a quick toss the match started with Rovers – kicking towards the North Stand’s seething Chesterfield mass – passing it about like Milan in the late 80s.
Six minutes on the watch and Rovers were ahead; Nathan Tyson pouncing on a rebound.
Midway through the half Saturday Santa was spotted on his way to the toilet, unbuttoning his pockets as he went.
On thirty-three minutes it was 2-0, thanks to a gazelle-like Richie Wellens crossing for Kyle Bennet to crash in off the crossbar.
In the half’s dying embers Chesterfield were all over Rovers like a cheap suit and Sam Clucas pulled one back whilst the linesman looked sheepishly on.
Half-time and pork pies all round.
James Coppinger was always a threat, hugging the touchline like DLT at Granada Studios, and on forty-nine minutes rattled the post with a rasping drive.
Shortly after it was 3-1; Jamie McCombe reacting first to stab home after good work from Coppinger.
Chesterfield were back in it on the hour, the prolific Eoin Doyle prodding home an almighty scramble.
The Spirerites’ tails were really wagging and the final ten minutes were as exciting as you could hope for with both sides pressing for another goal.
A wasted chance at the death didn’t enhance Theo Robinson’s reputation, but Rovers had their win and Paul Dickov’s hair was safe for another week.
by Stu Leyland
In general, a night of frustration from Rovers and two points dropped rather than one gained against Crawley’s direct style. I say ‘from Rovers’, for the players appeared as frustrated as those in the stands.
Doncaster looked to have learned the key lessons from Saturday’s defeat; cut out the mistakes and stop Harry Forrester getting sent off.
However, this fear of making a mistake, along with Crawley’s insistence on keeping eight behind the ball delivered a dull first half.
Between the head-tennis, Jamie Coppinger and Kyle Bennett looked lively, but play was slow and lacked quality in the final third, with the loudest cheer generated by the ball being hoofed over the East Stand roof.
The second half was much the same, with Rovers’ taking more of a foothold over time. Theo Robinson is a trier, but one coated in Teflon; a poor pass or touch, too often breaking Rovers’ build up, with Coppinger twice visibly cursing the number nine.
The match required some magic, a game changer. And so to the last five minutes, where Rovers finally laid siege, with a crispness and an urgency that had been missing all night. Reece Wabara’s deep cross found Robinson; his point blank header saved brilliantly by Jamie Ashdown. Coppinger drilled low, this time Ashdown parried, and Robinson hit the rebound into the prone keeper. A cracking double save, but he should’ve scored.
A positive, but ultimately disappointing night – how we could’ve done with Harry.
popular STAND fanzine 