Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at Church Street, Armthorpe
Pre-Season Friendly
Armthorpe Welfare 2 DONCASTER ROVERS 3
Attendance - 1,100
The Rovers, having only reported back for pre-season training on Monday, had their first taste of match action tonight against a raring-to-go Armthorpe side. A full strength Rovers squad turned out on a cool, overcast evening, which was perfect football weather on a well grassed, if somewhat bumpy, pitch.
The home team immediately set their stall out to attack before the Rovers could get into their rhythm, with right wing back, Brown setting the example of shooting at every opportunity. In the sixth minute he hit a tremendous shot from 30 yards that Woods could only tip over the bar and followed minutes later with another cracking effort from a similar distance that Woods was able to handle. The first fifteen minutes were definitely in favour of the Welfare but then the Rovers got their game going and began to play. Wilson carved out room to get in a good effort from 25 yards that Pettinger managed to save at the second attempt as Clark came rushing in. Then Clark followed this with a crack at goal, which Pettinger saved comfortably and Spicer hit a piledriver that a defender got his head in the way to give the Rovers a corner. Not to be outdone, Sibenge, for Armthorpe, had a go at goal from distance, with Woods equal to the task of saving. Beginning to string their passes together, the Rovers had the home defence on the rack for some minutes before the half hour. After a good build-up Coppinger tried to slip the ball past Pettinger from the angle of the six yard box but the keeper got his fingertips to the ball and pushed it round the post for a corner. This came out of defence to Clark, who rifled in a volley from 20 yards that a defender blocked. Then Coppinger again got in a good effort that saw Pettinger effect a good save to push round the post. Fairhurst then provided a cross, which Heffernan headed over and Wilson gave the same service to Fisher, who also headed over the bar. On 34 minutes, the Rovers finally breached the home defence following a corner when Lockwood gave HEFFERNAN the ball, which he duly put away from close range. As the half ran down to the break, Brown saved a certain goal by getting in a block tackle on Heffernan. Ashton, for the home team had a good chance after 38 minutes when he went clear on goal but he failed to get any power on the shot and Woods pouched the ball comfortably. The final action of the half saw Heffernan get in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that Pettinger pushed round the post.
The Rovers turned out in the second half with a fresh eleven. Actually it was ten changes, with Fairhurst being the sole survivor from the first half. However, the pressure on the Armthorpe defence was maintained. Maloney had a go from 20 yards but Pettinger saved easily. Fairhurst then cut in from the left but fired over, whilst minutes later, Shiels got through on goal from the right to hit a terrific shot that Pettinger beat away. At the Rovers end Holden fired high over the bar from 25 yards. Armthorpe then made some changes of personnel after 56 minutes. A couple of corners to the Rovers gave Guy a chance but the new goalkeeper, Frazier, was there to save and when the second one came out to Stock he fired high over the bar. The home team were not out of it by any means and forced successive corners of their own but they were cleared. On 69 minutes a great through ball from Shiels provided GUY with a great chance but his dink past the keeper also went the wrong side of the post from close range. However, in the next minute, he was on his own in the six yard box to steer the ball into the net for a second goal for the Rovers. Shiels had a good 30yarder saved and Frazier did well to save from Hayter as he tried to round him. After 76 minutes Guy was again going for goal from the right but he put wide of the far post as he was tackled. Suddenly, in the 77th and 79th minutes, the game was thrown wide open when Armthorpe scored through HOLDEN for the first and WALKER with the second when the Rovers defenders were caught too far upfield. Then, in the 80th minute, HAYTER was brought down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. The Rovers man took the kick himself and duly planted it into the net. The home team were game to the end but the result went the way of the Rovers by just a single goal difference. It had been a good workout for the Rovers there was no doubt about that.
Teams -
Armthorpe Welfare - Andy Pettinger (P Frazier, 56mins); Chris Brown (Thomas Dorgan, 56mins), I Farmery, Stuart Preston, Danny Sharpe, I Bagshaw (P Shazin, 56mins), Paul Ashton, James Walker, Bruno Holden, Liam Hardy, Henry Sibenge (Kyle Downing, 65mins)
ROVERS:
1st half - Gary Woods; James O'Connor, Adam Lockwood, Charles Fisher, Gareth Roberts, James Coppinger, John Spicer, Mark Wilson, Robbie Clark, Waide Fairhurst, Paul Heffernan
2nd half - Ben Smith; James Chambers, Jos van Nieuwstadt, Sam Hird, Ashley Towler, Waide Fairhurst (Robbie Clark, 71mins), Jon Maloney, Dean Shiels, Brian Stock, James Hayter, Lewis Guy
