A mild, sunny afternoon presented itself for the visit of Bristol Rovers to the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon. It will be the first clash of the two teams since the final of last season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the Millennium Stadium in April. Coincidentally, the referee of that final, Mr Graham Laws, will be the referee for this afternoon's match. The Rovers made one enforced change from last Saturday's impressive win at Millwall, with Matt Mills coming in for Adam Lockwood, out with a groin injury. Brian Stock took over the captain's armband. The Rovers of Bristol are currently on a fine run of form, being unbeaten in their last dozen games but they are still in the bottom half of the table. However, this is, perhaps, a false position because they have games in hand on everyone else due to an impressive F.A.Cup run, including a win over Premier League Fulham in the last Round. A good game is, therefore, anticipated. Before the start of the game, a well known figure to fans of both clubs, Alan Warboys, was presented to the crowd. The Rovers (of the Bristol kind) won the toss and defended the South Stand end leaving the Rovers of Doncaster to play in front of the away support in the first half. Bristol turned out in a change strip of all green.
The red and whites set the ball rolling, with both sides sounding each other out in the early minutes. Then, in the sixth minute, a sweeping movement down the Doncaster right was eventually knocked on to Coppinger at the far post but Phillips was out quickly to block his shot at the expense of a corner. Three minutes later, a collision between Phillips and McCammon as the keeper went up to catch the ball resulted in a booking for McCammon and a lengthy spell of treatment for the keeper. On the quarter hour Bristol forced a corner but it was cleared. In the 18th minute, coppinger chased a weak pass back to Phillips and was a clear favourite to get there first but a tug at his shirt slowed him sufficiently to allow the keeper to get there and clear. Three minutes later, a Bristol attack was finished off with a rasping shot from 20 yards by Lambert into Sullivan's midriff. The ball was then played down the Doncaster left where a Gareth Roberts cross was headed on by Coppinger for Price, in the Bristol six yards box, to slide in and put over the bar. The match settled down to a fairly even contest as the halfway mark of the half came up. On 28 minutes, Sullivan dwelt a little too long on a back pass allowing Williams to close him down and block his clearance but Sullivan was able to recover the ball and clear. Minutes later and a cross from O'Connor on the right was headed over the bar by McCammon at the far post. Down to the Doncaster end where a crack at goal from the right by Lambert was blocked, coming out to Pipe who shot wide from 20 yards. A corner to Doncaster came to nothing and an end-to-end tussle ensued in the run-down to the break. After 43 minutes, Lambert, for Bristol, got away on the right before cross ing to the far post for Lines to get a header in which Sullivan blocked at the post and a corner given away. Six minutes of added-on time was played with Bristol gaining three successive corners just before the call for half-time. As Green brought the ball out, with a quick break on the cards, he was brought down by Campbell near the halfway line, the Bristol man earning himself a booking.
The Rovers of Doncaster were the first to show after two minutes of the second half when sheer persistence by Wellens forced a corner on the Doncaster right. Price headed over. Five minutes later and a cross by Gareth Roberts was met with a bullet header by Price but to the consternation of the Doncaster fans who were already cheering for a goal it hit a post and rebounded back into play. Minutes later Phillips spilt a cross but two efforts at goal were blocked before McCammon put over the bar. Continuing to have the better of play, the breakthrough came in the 64 th minute when Wellens was brought down by Lescott in the Bristol penalty area. Penalty said the referee but it was fully a minute before it could be taken by STOCK, who planted it to the keeper's left as he went right. Stock's next effort, five minutes later, from twice the distance was saved by the keeper. Heffernan, who had just come on the field in place of Price, closed down Phillips and blocked his clearance but Phillips was able to recover the ball. Bristol then gained a corner which was cleared but on 77 minutes, the visitors had a free kick from their left touchline which Williams skimmed off the back of his head but Sullivan was in the right place to save. A couple of corners went to the Rovers, from the second of which Heffernan had a header saved on the line by Phillips. Into four minutes of added-on time and Doncaster were awarded a free kick just outside the Bristol penalty area. Stock took it and immediately claimed handball by a defender in the Bristol wall. The referee concurred and pointed to the spot. HEFFERNAN took the kick and replicated Stock's previous effort with the same result. The final whistle heralded another good win by the Rovers but it had been hard going to get the result.
The Rovers had the better of the second half following an even first half and deserved the reward they got.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Steve Roberts, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Mark McCammon, Jason Price.
Subs used - Paul Heffernan for Price 70 mins; Lewis Guy for Coppinger 80 mins; Sean McDaid for Wellens 87 mins;
Subs not used - Mark Wilson, Martin Woods.
Caution - McCammon,
Bristol Rovers - Steve Phillips; Joe Jacobson, Craig Hinton, Stuart Campbell, Andy Williams, Rickie Lambert, David Pipe, Danny Coles, Chris Lines, Craig, Disley, Aaron Lescott
Subs used - Sean Rigg for Disley 66 mins; Sammy Igoe for Lines 71 mins; Anthony Pulis for Pipe 76 mins; Subs not used - Chris Carruthers, Byron Anthony,
Caution - Campbell, Phillips, Coles,
Half Time Draw Winning No - 11076
