- by Chris Mortley at Farley Way Stadium
Doncaster Rovers second pre-season warm-up resulted in a 0-0 stalemate, as Sean O'Driscoll's side struggled to break through a determined Quorn side in horrendous conditions on Wednesday evening.
The Rovers handed two starts to trialists Joel Grandison, a midfielder formerly of Coventry City and Shaleum Logan of Manchester City, a defender currently being looked at by a number of different clubs. Former West Ham United man Josh Payne, who played against Askern Villa the previous week, also started for the Rovers, whilst O'Driscoll handed starts to new signings Billy Sharp and Simon Gillett.
The home side set the tempo of the game early on, creating the first clear-cut goal scoring opportunity. Passing the ball around well, Quorn full back Steve Purton pushed forward and received the ball on the left before striking a fierce effort on goal on 12 minutes which Rovers 'keeper Neil Sullivan had to palm away well.
The early strike from Quorn was enough to spark Rovers into a bit more life, with skipper Brian Stock and striker James Hayter linking up well at the other end. The duo passed the ball around intricately before Hayter scuffed his shot wide from the edge of the area.
All three trialists saw plenty of the ball in the first half, with Logan looking a confident full-back and Grandison pushing on down the flank in front of him; however it was Payne who was becoming the more influential player as he covered every blade of grass in midfield, linking up well with Stock and Gillett.
Also continuing to impress was full-back George Friend, who pushed forward on 25 minutes as the heavens opened in stormy conditions, and fizzed a strong cross into the area, only for the ball to evade the advancing Hayter and Sharp.
Hayter himself had two further strikes on goal miss the target, before Quorn winger Brett Derby himself blasted a strike from 25 yards over Sullivan's bar. However it was to be the Billy Sharp five minutes at the end of the first half.
The record signing was working hard all half and did well twice in five minutes to open the scoring. The first effort saw Sharp effortlessly turn his man on the edge of the area before drilling the ball inches wide of the far post, before his later cross across the width of the box almost forced Quorn skipper Chris Gray to turn the ball into his own net.
Half Time: Quorn 0 Rovers 0
The Rovers boss rang the changes in the second half, with Martin Woods making his first appearance since suffering a groin injury and Waide Fairhurst replacing Billy Sharp.
Fairhurst was to have an influence on Rovers' attacking prowess in the second half and created the first opportunity eight minutes into the restart. Running well with the ball at his feet, the Rover striker did superbly well to hit a well stuck ball towards goal, only for Quorn 'keeper Matt Nurse to see the ball skew wide of goal.
The young striker also played his part in the best opportunity of the game on 54 minutes. Rovers were awarded a free kick after Robbie Clark was felled outside the area. Woods struck a direct free-kick which was palmed away by Nurse; only for Clark to see his goal-bound header ricochet of the crossbar. The ball then fell to Fairhurst, whose curling shot only just sailed over the bar.
Rovers continued to dominate proceedings, with Shelton Martis heading wide from a Waide Fairhurst corner before another free kick hit by Woods on 75 minutes needed parrying away by a Quorn 'keeper struggling to hold onto any powerfully hit Rovers shots.
Despite Rovers determination to break the deadlock, dogged defending by the home side ensured that they were not to be beaten as another good workout for Doncaster Rovers ended in stalemate.
Teams: Quorn: Matt Nurse; Sam Wood, Kris Matthews (Chris White, 60'), Rob Lyall, Steve Purton; Brett Derby (Rich Lonsdale, 60), Ash Robinson (Anthony Marriott, 67'), Chris Gray (Kyle Smith, 88'), Dan Marshall, Tom Byrne, Liam Turner (Josh Thompson, 45)
Doncaster Rovers (1st Half): Neil Sullivan; Trialist, Shelton Martis, James O'Connor, George Friend; Joel Grandison, Simon Gillett, Brian Stock, Josh Payne; Billy Sharp, James Hayter
Doncaster Rovers (2nd Half): Gary Woods, Mustapha Dumbuya, Adam Lockwood, Sam Hird, Shelton Martis (Friend, 62'); Josh Grandison, Martin Woods, Robbie Clark, Simon Gillett (Richard O'Kelly 76'); Waide Fairhurst, James Hayter (Lee Butler, 85')
