A sunny, breezy afternoon welcomed Crewe Alexandra to Doncaster for today's match, played on a Sunday because of the St Leger meeting at the Racecourse yesterday. The Rovers made two changes, Lewis Guy and Paul Heffernan starting the game in place of Gordon Greer and Mark McCammon, who is injured. As the League table stands this Sunday morning the Rovers are fourth from the bottom so a win is essential to get the team back on track and out of trouble. So far, on their travels, Crewe have drawn both the games played so the Rovers know they won't find it easy. However, on an immaculate pitch, a good match was expected with both teams known for their footballing skills.
Crewe set the ball rolling, with the wind behind them as the Rovers defended the South Stand end. The home team, however, were soon on the ball and a successful foray down the right by O'Connor followed by inter passing in the middle presented Stock with a shooting chance from 25 yards that had the keeper, Williams, diving full length to his left to palm away. Continuing to have the best of the exchanges over the next few minutes the Rovers next effort on goal came from Wilson after 8 minutes with a powerful drive that went over the bar. Crewe then worked their way into the game but their attack foundered on the Rovers defence. Minutes later, Wellens put Guy away on the left, a low cross to the middle was just out of reach of Hayter and then when the ball came back into the penalty area Wellens was tackled off it. Five minutes later, Guy had a try for goal from the left wing and helped on by Heffernan the ball went just the wrong side of the far post. A fierce drive by Stock from 30 yards was then deflected for a corner to the home team. On 22 minutes, a rare Crewe attack could easily have led to a goal when Lowe played the ball in from the right for Barnard but he failed to make a good connection, the ball going out for a goal kick. In a good spell for the visitors, Gary Roberts fired over from 30 yards.and Lowe, from the edge of the penalty area fired into Sullivan's midriff. Then, on 31 minutes, came the breakthrough. The ball was played to HEFFERNAN, who beat his marker and found himself with a clear run on goal. He played the ball over the advancing keeper and was able to slide the ball into the net as he was tackled. Crewe took this as an affront and tried to hit back but the Rovers defence stood firm. The home team took over control of the game to the break, going in good value for their one goal lead.
Crewe made a couple of changes at the start of the second half but it availed them not. Two minutes into the half a good cross from the right by Guy was inadvertently turned into his own goal by WOODARDS as he attempted to clear. Crewe again tried to hit back straight away but their only reward was a corner before the Rovers again took possession of the game. Guy, in the middle, put wide from 25 yards when he had an unmarked team-mate to his right then a corner to the home team came to nothing before Wilson then fired over from 20 yards as the hour mark came up. Fairly even play followed, mostly in midfield. The Rovers made a couple of substitutions with fifteen minutes to go but it was Crewe who went on to the attack with Moore getting to the left byline before hitting a low cross to the middle for Barnard, who could only stab it goalwards for Sullivan to pick up. Then a last ditch tackle by Mills on Barnard in the Rovers penalty area saved the day for the home team. Successive corners followed for Crewe but they couldn't get a clear strike on goal. The Rovers nearly exploited the lack of defenders at the Crewe end when a clearance out of defence found Heffernan, who was able to run on goal chased by a couple of men from Crewe but he screwed his shot wide of the far post. Another good move by the Rovers came on the right through Green to Stock to Heffernan, who stabbed wide under pressure at the near post. The Rovers then ran the clock down with possession of the ball to run out winners by two clear goals.
A good win for the Rovers, who totally dominated the midfield thus leaving the other departments to do their job. This was done to such an extent that the visitors never looked like getting anything out of the game.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matthew Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Mark Wilson, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Lewis Guy, James Hayter, Paul Heffernan
Subs used - Paul Green for Wellens 75 mins; Sean McDaid for Guy 76 mins; Jason Price for Heffernan 84 mins;
Subs not used - Gordon Greer, James Coppinger
Crewe Alexandra - Ben Williams; Danny Woodards, Julian Baudet, Chris McCready, Billy Jones; Gary Roberts, Steve Schumacher, Neil Cox, Eugene Bopp; Lee Barnard, Ryan Lowe
Subs used - Ben Rix for Bopp 46 mins; Byron Moore for Cox 46 mins; George Abbey for Baudet 73 mins;
Subs not used - Shaun Miller, Stuart Tomlinson
