Saturday 18th July 2009 at Holker Street, Barrow
Pre-Season Friendly
Barrow 0 DONCASTER ROVERS 2
The Rovers kicked with a stiff breeze behind them in the first half and had a couple of chances in the first five minutes. Fairhurst had the first with a clear shot from just inside the area but straight at the keeper and minutes later Shiels lobbed a ball from 20 yards on to the top of the bar.
However, having weathered this the home side found their feet and pressed forward gaining a couple of corners over the next five minutes with Logan on the left showing up well. It developed into a fairly even game, with the Rovers getting shots in and Barrow winning corners. Stock hit wide from 25yards and on 21 minutes, Guy was played in but the keeper saved with a leg as he tried to slip the ball past him. The ball went to Woods but his shot was cleared off the line. The next minute, Walker, for the home team, was put clear on goal but Sullivan stood up and stuck a leg out to deflect the shot for a corner. Then Spender , on the Barrow right, hit a terrific shot from 25yards that Sullivan had to dive to his left to tip round the post. The corner came out to Logan on the edge of the penalty area but his thunderous shot was deflected by Mills for another corner. Back came the Rovers, with Shiels, on the Rovers left playing the ball to Guy but his shot was deflected by a defender into the keeper's hands. On the half hour, a Woods thunderbolt was beaten out by Deasy but a minute later, Heffernan flicked on a pass for GUY, in space, to shoot past the keeper for the opening goal. The home side tried hard to hit back but their only efforts at goal were by Boyd, who shot high and wide and Newton shooting wide from 25 yards. Otherwise, the Rovers were comfortable on the ball and played out time to the break.
The Rovers made a number of substitutions for the second half and were two up within the first minute when CLARK received from Hayter and rifled into the roof of the net from 25yards.Hayter followed this by having a twenty yarder saved. The Ro0vers had the edge and were enjoying most of the play. On 56 minutes, a cross from their left by Roberts presented Hayter with a fine chance but his header hit a post and then cleared. Past the hour and Barrow sighted the Rovers goal for the first time this half when a free kick from their left was put to the far post for Dugdale but Smith was there to save the header. At the other end a great chip by Woods from 25yards landed on the top of the Barrow net. The home team came up with numerous substitutions but the most interesting one was by the Rovers when Richard O'Kelly came on for Van Nieuwstadt and Lee Butler came on for Woods. The match ran to it's close with the Rovers coming out with a two goal win and a good workout.
Teams - Barrow - Tim Deasy; Simon Spender, Sean Newton, Paul Jones, Adam Dugdale, Paul Rutherford, Robin Hulbert, Mark Boyd, John Murphy, Jason Walker, Carlos Logan
Subs - Phil Bolland for Dugdale 57mins; Andy Bond for Boyd 57mins; Phil Morris for Logan 57mins;
ROVERS
1st half - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Matt Mills, Jos Van Nieuwstadt, Gareth Roberts; Dean Shiels, Brian Stock, Martin Woods, Waide Fairhurst; Paul Heffernan, Lewis Guy
2nd half - Ben Smith; Jos Van Nieuwstadt, Sam Hird, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Charles Fisher, Robbie Clark, Mark Wilson, Martin Woods, James Hayter, John Spicer.
Sub used - Richard O'Kelly for Van Nieuwstadt 79mins; Lee Butler for Woods 84mins.
