Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at Blundell Park, Cleethorpes
Pre-Season Friendly
Grimsby Town 0 DONCASTER ROVERS 2
Referee - Mr D Langford
Attendance - 1,886 (207)
A breezy but warm evening at the seaside saw the Rovers play their penultimate pre-season against Grimsby Town. The Rovers included two new trialists in their starting line-up, Webster and Mustafa.
There was a lot of endeavour together with some good football from both sides in the first half but precious little action in front of goal. Ten minutes passed before the first go at goal came from Sweeney for the home team but he shot wide from the edge of the area. Two minutes later the Rovers won the first corner of the game but nothing came of it. A lot of midfield play ensued before the Rovers won another corner on the half hour. Hayter, beyond the far post, collected and fired wide. Minutes later and some brilliant work by Mustafa, on the Rovers right, who drifted past two defenders before putting a great ball through for Guy to run on to and shoot but the keeper, Overton, saved with his legs. Fortune followed this a couple of minutes later by getting into a shooting position 25 yards out but firing wide.The Rovers had shaded possession but Grimsby were solid at the back and were always quick to break but the Rovers defence was always there to protect Sullivan.
Half Time - Grimsby Town 0 Doncaster Rovers 0
The Rovers made 8 changes at the start of the second half and from the kick off showed their determination to get on the scoresheet. Two minutes in and Woods played the ball through for Walker but he shot wide under challenge. Shiels followed this up with an effort from 25 yards but the keeper pushed it away. Immediately following, Heffernan pulled a ball back for Woods to chip for the top corner from 20yards but it was just wide of a post. The Rovers to have the better of play with Wilson having a couple of tries at goal either side of the hour mark. Grimsby then made wholesale changes and freshened things up a bit for the home team. Smith just beat Proudlock to a ball lofed over the Rovers defence on 65mins but the Rovers soon imposed their majority possession. Shiels was just wide with a cracking effort from 20yards before HEFFERNAN received fro Oster to go round the keeper and shoot in from an acute angle on 74 minutes. WALKER added goal no 2 on 80 minutes. He had just defended the ball at the near post following a Grimsby free kick but raced upfield to receive a long ball out of the Rovers defence to slide the ball into the net for a well taken goal. With five minutes to go Grimsby were awarded a penalty but Smith saved at the foot of a post from Conlon.
Full Time - Grimsby Town 0 Doncaster Rovers 2
Teams - Grimsby Town - Leigh Overton; Robbie Stockdale, Joe Widdowson, Ryan Bennett, Rob Atkinson, Jamie Clarke (Peter Bore 64mins), Peter Sweeney, Michael Leary (Adam Proudlock 59 mins), Nick Hegarty (Nathan Jarman 59mins), JL Akpa Akpo (Barry Conlon 59mins) Danny North (Danny Boshell 59mins)
Subs - Rob Peet, Matt Heywood, Paul Linwood, Matthew Bird, Grant Normington,
DONCASTER ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; Mustafa (Robbie Clark 80mins) Adam Lockwood, B Webster, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, John Spicer, Brian Stock, Quinton Fortune; Lewis Guy, James Hayter
Rovers 2nd Half - Ben Smith; Mustafa (Robbie Clark 81mins), Sam Hird, B Webster (Jack Nodder 81mins), Gareth Roberts (Charles Fisher 69mins) John Oster, Mark Wilson, Dean Shiels, Martin Woods; Paul Heffernan, Jason Walker.
