- by Tony Bluff at Keepmoat Stadium

A fine, warm evening and a well grassed pitch provided the ingredients for a good League Cup match. The Rovers made a number of changes due to knocks received on Saturday at Preston, Brian Stock on international duty and Simon Gillett suspended. So short are they, in fact, that four Youth team players make up the bench. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

The Stanley set the game in motion but the Rovers won the first corner of the game in the second minute although nothing came from it. After some general midfield play Accrington won a free kick 25yards out. Following it the ball was put in the net but ruled offside by the linesman. Five minutes later and a good run by Fairhurst led to Shiels having a crack from 20yards but Cisak saved. A good link-up between Dumbuya and Clark on the Rovers right gave Clark a shot from an angle that went into the side net. In the 20th minute a corner to the Rovers was headed wide of the far post. The visitors then settled down and began to have good possession, with Lindfield shooting over from 16yards in the 24th minute. Five minutes later and Putterill had the best chance of the match with only Sullivan to beat from 12yards but blasted the ball high and wide. Shiels then got in a shot from 25yards that went wide. The ten minutes left before half time produced a lot of midfield endeavour with the visitors shading possession but no end product to trouble either keeper.

Half time - Doncaster Rovers 0 Accrington Stanley 0

The Rovers got the second half underway and attacked with Fairhurst down the left. His cross wasn't cleared properly by the Accrington defence and came to PAYNE on the left inside the penalty area. He He hit a shot into the massed ranks of defenders, took a deflection and zipped past the keeper seventy seconds after the re-start.Continuing to press the Rovers gained a couple of corners, with the second coming from a Friend cross from the left that the keeper could only tip over the bar. Nothing came from them but the Rovers were playing with more panache and gusto. Just past the hour and Fairhurst beat a man and cut in from the right before hitting a fierce drive from an angle t15yards out that skimmed the bar. In the 64th minute with the visitors in the Rovers half, Putterill, out of the blue, hit a low thirty-yarder that Sullivan could only tip round a post. The visitors got more into the game so that, in the 74th minute, Hessey on the right got in a shot that Sullivan could only beat away. However, at the other end, Clark got in a snapshot from 20yards that Cisak couldn't hold but collected before anybody else got there. Then, in the 83rd minute, the Rovers failed to clear a cross from the Accrington right to the far post. Sullivan blocked one effort from close range but had no chance with the follow-up from TURNER, who fired into the far corner. The Rovers tried to hit back and a low cross from Friend, on their left, into the middle was blocked as Fairhust tried to force it over the goal-line. The rebound brought a thunderbolt from O'Connor but again an Accrington body got in the way. Four minutes of added time brought only misery for the Rovers when Hayter went down with a hamstring injury.

Full time - Doncaster Rovers 1 Accrington Stanley 1

The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first period of extra time and went on the attack. However, in the 95th minute, the visitors, following a corner took the lead when  a shot hit a post and EDWARDS, being the first to react, shot in to give Accrington the lead. Two minutes later and a low cross from Dumbuya on the right gave Shiels the chance to hit a thunderous drive that ko'd Edwards but saved a possible goal. Minutes later and Grayson put over the bar as the Rovers pressed up to the break.

Half time extra time - Doncaster Rovers 1 Accrington Stanley 1

The Rovers began the second period on the attack, with Grayson getting in a header at the far post that Cisak saved. The Rovers had the majority of the play in this period but could not find a way through a stubborn defence, with the only clear-cut chance coming in added time when Martis fired wide from 12yards. Time came and the Rovers were out of the Carling League Cup.

Result - Doncaster Rovers 1 Accrington Stanley 2

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; Mustapha Dumbuya, James O'Connor, Adam Lockwood, George Friend; Sam hird, Dean Shiels, Robbie Clark, Josh Payne; Waide Fairhurst, Steve Brooker

Subs used - James Hayter for Brooker 63mins; Shelton Martis for Payne 78mins; Bradley Grayson for Hayter 90+4mins.

Subs not used - Brett Lucas, Aaron Jones, Robbie Oldham, Gary Woods gk

Caution - Clark

Accrington Stanley - Alex Cisak; Johnny Bateson, Dean Winard, Sean Hessey, Andrew Proctor, Jimmy Ryan, Craig Lindfield, Ray Putterill, Sean McConville, Phil Edwards, Luke Joyce,

Subs used - Chris Turner for Bateson 72mins; Andy Parkinson for Joyce 72mins; Peter Murphy for Putterill 112mins;

Subs not used - Zak Riley, Ian Dunbavin gk

Caution - McConville