A warm, sunny spring afternoon greeted the return of football to the Keepmoat Stadium after the the break for international football.
After their rest the Rovers players should be raring to go and secure their position in the League table by getting the necessary points required. First up of the last half-a-dozen games is Watford, this afternoon's visitors, who are a place and two points below the Rovers. The Rovers made one change to their starting line-up, with Sam Hird coming in and Dean Shiels dropping to the bench where new boy, Kazenga LuaLua, also gets his first sight of the Rovers in action. Our visitors, the Hornets from Watford, keep the same team that drew their last game against Ipswich Town. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
The Rovers got the game underway but it was the third minute before either keeper was called into action then Loach could only beat out a 25yard rasping shot from Woods. Midfield play followed until the 13th minute when Priskin, for the visitors, got to the right byline about six yards from the near post and hit a stinging low cross that hit HIRD and bounced off him into the net. The visitors followed this up with Mariappa, on the right, crossing to the middle where Priskin got in a close range header that Sullivan pushed out for a corner. However, on 17 minutes, Watford took a quick throw-in near the right corner flag, the cross went in and PRISKIN was in the middle to guide his header into the far corner of the net. The bulk of the next fifteen minutes was spent in the Rovers half as the Rovers defended desperately against a Watford side brimming with confidence. After 32 minutes the manager decided to change the Rovers set-up and brought on Dean Shiels to give Heffernan some assistance up front and took off a defender, Hird. Watford, still on the attack saw Jenkins try his luck from 30yards but he put well over the bar. At last the Rovers began to show in the opposition half, with Shiels, in a crowded penalty area, getting in a low shot which Loach saved. Two minutes later, following a free kick from Woods on their left halfway in the Watford half, the ball was cleared out to Wilson on the right just outside the penalty area. His well struck shot was blocked by the yellow shirted bodies in front of the goal and came out to Spicer on the edge of the area. Again there was too many bodies in front of him and his effort was blocked and eventually cleared. As time ran down to the break the Rovers were now enjoying their best period but a couple of corners brought no reward. In added time Shiels got into the penalty area from the left and skimmed the angle of the bar and post at the far end of goal. The break came with Watford leading by two well taken goals and Sean O'Driscoll having to rally his players to get something from the game.
Half-Time - Doncaster Rovers 0 Watford 2
Watford got the second half on its way but it was the Rovers who got the first srike on goal in the 50th minute when Shiels got into the Watford penalty area on the Rovers right and hit a left foot shot that Loach saved comfortably. Four minutes later Watford brought on ex Rotherham player, Will Hoskins, who was brought instantly into the game when Mills' crossfield pass hit him and set him away on goal but when he got into the penalty area he sidefooted well wide of goal with only Sullivan to beat. Play then moved down the Rovers left where good play got Shiels in on goal from the byline but Loach was able to smother his attempt at goal. Just before the hour Woods put a 30yard free kick just wide. On the hour, the loanee from Newcastle United, Kazenga LuaLua was introduced to the fray for the Rovers and was immediately involved in the play culminating in him having a go from 30 yards that Loach saved. Five minutes later Woods put a free kick over the bar. Although the Rovers were having their fair share of the play they could not pierce the well drilled Watford defence. As the last 15 minutes came up Watford had a couple of corners that came to nothing whilst at the other end Spicer had a 25yard effort comfortably saved by Loach. Another corner to the visitors came to nothing then, after 85 minutes, HAYTER received the ball halfway into the Watford half on the right, got just inside the angle of the area and curled the ball into the far top corner of the net. Spurred on by this the Rovers tried hard but couldn't find another goal. Lockwood put over the bar following a free kick but the final whistle went on the fourth successive defeat for the Rovers, three of them at home.
Result - Doncaster Rovers 1 Watford 2
Teams -
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Matt Mills, Sam Hird, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; John Spicer, Richie Wellens, Mark Wilson, Martin Woods; Paul Heffernan
Subs used - Dean Shiels for Hird 32mins; Kazenga LuaLua for Wellens 60mins; James Hayter for Wilson 81mins;
Subs not used - Jos Van Nieuwstadt, Lewis Guy
Caution- LuaLua,
Watford - Scott Loach; Adrian Mariappa, Jay DeMerit, Mike Williamson, Lloyd Doyley; Jack Cork, Don Cowie, Ross Jenkins, Jobi McAnuff; Tamas Priskin, Tommy Smith
Subs used - Danny Rose for Cowie 35mins; Will Hoskins for Priskin 54mins; Jon Harley for Rose 90mins;
Subs not used - Andrei Stepanov, Richard Lee (GK)
