Part three of our look back at games between local rivals Scunthorpe United and Doncaster Rovers.
Throughout this week we are counting down to an eagerly anticipated derby at Glanford Park between Scunthorpe and Doncaster Rovers by taking a look at some fraught and frenetic clashes – literally and metaphorically – between the two clubs.Recently we have taken a look at how Rovers came from behind to win in North Lincolnshire and how they blew a two goal lead in spectacular fashion in what was a great advert for Championship football.
The next of our games comes from Rovers’ successful 2003/04 campaign.
Game 3
Sat 7th February 2004
Division 3
Scunthorpe United 2-2 Doncaster Rovers
The Rovers promotion trail was rumbling along quite nicely at the beginning of 2004 despite losses against rivals Hull and Huddersfield over Christmas.
Dave Penney’s side visited Glanford Park during a run which saw Rovers defeated just once in seventeen games.
The Iron, meanwhile, would escape relegation to non-league by just four points despite the best efforts of the league’s top scorer, Steve MacLean.
MacLean, who had featured for the Iron in their 1-0 defeat at Belle Vue on Boxing Day was absent for the return leg, however it appeared as through the hosts didn’t miss him.
Within ten minutes, United lead courtesy of centre forward Steve Torpey, who put past Rovers ‘keeper Andy Warrington.
With Penney’s side struggling to get a foothold in the game, Doncaster-born defender Andy Butler doubled the Iron’s advantage just after the hour mark.
Any hope of Rovers salvaging something from the game seemed completely lost when full back Jamie Price was red carded for a knee high challenge with less than 20 minutes to play.
Rovers were thrown a lifeline just seven minutes from time, however, when Gregg Blundell was felled in the box and influential Michael McIndoe kept his cool from the spot to place home.
McIndoe’s presence grew, as did the hopes of a fightback from the travelling fans and the winger’s cross was prodded home in injury time by the boot of Leo Fortune West in injury time to rescue a valuable - and unlikely - point.