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Doncaster 1-0 Town
Doncaster 1-0 Town
Saturday, 15th Nov 2008 20:26

Under-par Town fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, Shelton Martis heading the game's only goal just before half-time. Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan prevented Darren Ambrose from scoring on his return and Richard Naylor hit the bar, but Town were unconvincing throughout.

Despite his week of controversy, David Norris kept his place in a side which was unchanged other than Alex Bruce coming in for Gareth McAuley, who had picked up a hamstring problem. As expected, new loan signing Darren Ambrose was left on the bench.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side from a corner on the left. Matthew Mills headed on and Sam Hird hit a shot which Alex Bruce deflected over.

David Norris didn't make his first serious touch on the ball until the seventh minute when he was booed by the home support.

A minute later, the Blues ought to have gone in front when Doncaster failed to deal with a corner, but Alex Bruce was unable to make contact with the ball at the far post.

Norris was on the end of a James Chambers arm in the 16th minute with the Doncaster players clearly out to rattle the under fire midfielder. Referee Kevin Friend gave Town a freekick, but surprisingly didn't show a card. Neither Norris nor Jim Magilton were impressed with the lack of a caution.

On 19 Owen Garvan sent in a corner from the right and Richard Naylor headed off the cross bar. Inexplicably Jason Price appeared to punch the ball out of the area before, with several Town players appealing and referee Kevin Friend not interested, David Norris struck a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked.

Moritz Volz picked up his fifth yellow card of the season for handball as Doncaster broke in the 24th minute. The German defender will now miss next week's home game with Derby. Martin Woods hit Richard Wright with the resultant freekick.

Quinn's 25-yard effort failed to test Wright with the Blues by now moved into a 4-5-1 formation with Jon Walters switching to the right of midfield.

Lisbie's knockdown created an opening for Quinn in the 32nd minute, but Sullivan did well to push the ball over the bar. At the other end, Wright punched and then claimed just inside the area after a ball was played over the top for Woods.


Two minutes later, Norris hit a shot through to Sullivan after a Lisbie effort had deflected out to him on the edge of the area.

Town were close to going in front in the 40th minute when Volz sent in a cross from the right, Walters headed the ball down and Norris shot wide when he probably should have hit the target, although he was under pressure from Brian Stock.

Moments later, the home side went in front. Stock sent a freekick into the box from the halfway line, Mills headed across the area and Shelton Martis lost Jon Walters and nodded the ball past Richard Wright from close range.

The goal had come somewhat against the run of play, the Blues having had the better of the second half of the first period after starting the game slowly. Just before the break, Richard Naylor headed a freekick too close to Sullivan.

Town were a touch unlucky to go in a goal down having just about shaded the half, while never being at their fluent best. The goal had come at a time when Town were looking stronger than at any previous stage, while the Blues could count themselves extremely unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty when Jason Price seemed to punch the ball inside the area.

Four minutes into the second half, the game almost became overheated when Mills went in very late on Norris and leant over the midfielder shouting abuse at the prone player. Jon Walters and Alex Bruce remonstrated with the Doncaster defender, the centre-half joining Mills in referee Kevin Friend's book for his trouble.

On 51 Walters passed to Quinn on the edge of the area when he probably should have taken the ball on himself, the former Sheffield United man having a less clear sight of goal.

The Blues had failed to make too much impact after the break and it was little surprise when manager Jim Magilton made early changes, Darren Ambrose replacing an unimpressed Alan Quinn for his second Town debut and Jon Stead taking over from Jon Walters.

On 58 Paul Heffernan was yellow-carded for a foul on Volz, prior to Stock shooting over from 25 yards.

Ambrose came close to a goal in the 64th minute, volleying Garvan's excellent left-wing cross goalwards, but Sullivan reacting brilliantly to tip over.

Four minutes later, Richard Wright matched the former Leeds man's agility when Woods struck a shot which took a deflection, the Town keeper managing somehow to stick out his right hand to push the ball away from goal.

Town had improved since the substitutions but were still a long way from the team which had won on their two most recent away trips. On 70 Pablo Couñago took over from the quiet Lisbie.

The Spaniard made an immediate impact, Ambrose sending in a cross which Couñago headed too close to Sullivan.

Woods shot over from 30 yards, before John Spicer made a break down the Doncaster left but scuffed the ball weakly to Wright.

On 84 Couñago was within a whisker of getting the Blues back on terms, but headed Stead's excellent left-wing cross narrowly wide of Sullivan's goal at the far post.

Stead went just wide with a first time effort from the edge of the area and with two minutes of normal time remaining headed over from a corner.

As the game moved into injury time Town continued to falter and Doncaster pressed for a second, sub Gareth Taylor shooting wide from the edge of the area during injury time.

Town never matched the heights of the recent performances at Plymouth and Blackpool and seemed lacking in self-belief for a team which had played so well in recent weeks. Owen Garvan and Veliche Shumulikoski failed to control the game as they have lately and at no stage did Town get completely on top of a Doncaster side which looks significantly better than their currently lowly standing.

That said, the Blues created more than enough chances and but for one or two outstanding saves from Neil Sullivan, some less than impressive finishing and referee Kevin Friend's failure to award a penalty for Jason Price's blatant handball, the points could have been on their way back to Suffolk.

A setback rather than a disaster after a run during which the Blues have shown on a number of occasions that they are capable of competing at the right end of the table.

Town: R Wright, Volz, D Wright, Naylor, Bruce, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Norris, Quinn (Ambrose 53), Lisbie (Couñago 70), Walters (Stead 53). Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Att: 10,823.


Photo: Action Images



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