Report: Rovers 2 -1 Brentford
The Rovers made two changes to their line-up, with David Syers and Billy Paynter giving way to Martin Woods and Iain Hume, back from international duty with Canada.
Brentford started the brighter and spent the early minutes on the attack but couldn’t make the breakthrough on goal. The Rovers won the first corner on 9 minutes but nothing came from it. Five minutes later and Brentford won a corner on their right. It came out of defence to Douglas, who fired wide from 25yards. In the 18th minute, Forrester fired wide from 25yards and the Rovers went straight on to the attack, with a cross coming in from the right, eventually falling to Bennett, who fired over from 7yards. A few minutes later and following a Rovers throw-in, Brown received in the Brentford area but scuffed the shot through a defender’s legs for the keeper to save easily. The visitors then went downfield and Dean received half way in the Rovers half, ran on and from the edge of the area fired for the near post where Gary Woods could only push it out for a corner. In the 26th minute, Cotterill put the ball through for Bennett but the keeper came out and stopped the ball but failed to collect and a defender cleared for him. At the Rovers end, Martis left his back-pass short of Gary Woods and Donaldson nipped in to touch it past Woods but wide of the post. The visitors then began to take control of the game and kept the Rovers on the defensive. In the 38th minute a corner from the Brentford left, to the far post, was put wide by Craig. Two minutes later and Cotterill, with a free kick from just outside of the penalty area forced Moore to dive to his left and put out for a corner. Then, in the 45th minute, a quick break found the Rovers defence short at the back and DOUGLAS was able to fire past Woods for the opening goal.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 0 Brentford 1
The Rovers got the second half underway and went straight on to the attack but couldn’t get a sight of goal. Three minutes in and a quick break by the Bees put the Rovers in trouble at the back but Donaldson was pushed wide and lost the ball. Minutes later and Dean fired wide from 30yards. Straight to the other end where the Rovers won a corner, which was played to Hume, whose cross to the far post was headed over by Jones. Past the hour and following a corner to the Rovers, Martin Woods hit a fierce drive that was blocked and spun into the air for Moore to catch easily. In the 65th minute, a good move by Brentford took them within sight of goal but Donaldson, on the left, fired high and wide. Five minutes later and with Brentford lining up to shoot, the ball went to Adeyemi on the right to be tamely put wide. Then, in the 75th minute, came the defining moment. Out of nothing, COTTERILL picked up the ball and hit a tremendous twenty-five yarder into the top corner of the net. Spurred on by this goal and the crowd Bennett won the ball on the Rovers right and from the angle of the penalty area fired just past the far post. Then Paynter was played in on the right but a last ditch tackle meant his shot went for a corner. Then, in the 85th minute, a great cross from the left by Martin Woods was headed firmly into the net by PAYNTER, on his own in the six-yard box. Four minutes of added time was indicated but the Rovers were not going to give away what had been earned the hard way. The final whistle went and the Rovers, having finally come good in the last fifteen minutes, took the three points.
Teams – ROVERS – Gary Woods; Paul Quinn, Shelton Martis, Rob Jones ©, Tommy Spurr; David Cotterill, James Harper, Martin Woods, Kyle Bennett; Ian Hume, Chris Brown
Subs used – David Syers for Martis 56 mins; Billy Paynter for Brown 63 mins; Robbie Blake for Hume 80 mins;
Subs not used - Michael Woods, Jordan Ball, Paul Keegan, Neil Sullivan gk
Brentford – Simon Moore; Shaleum Logan, Tony Craig, Harlee Dean, Jake Bidwell; Adam Forshaw, Jonathan Douglas, Toumani Diagouraga, Harry Forrester; Tom Adeyemi, Clayton Donaldson
Subs used – Leon Legge for Bidwell 59 mins; Kevin O’Conner for Forshaw 2 mins; Stuart Dallas for Adeyemi 78 mins;
Subs not used - Scott Barron, Jimmy Spencer, Paul Hayes, Richard Lee gk