Monday 19th July 2010, Joma South West Challenge Cup

- by Chris Mortley at Mill Road

Doncaster Rovers confidently dispatched of Barnstaple Town in the first of their 2010 Joma South West Challenge Cup games as goals went flying in at Mill Road on Monday evening.

The travelling Rovers fans were treated to four goals in the first half. The Rovers were the dominant side from the first whistle and the difference in class shone through in the fifth minute, when a superb run by Dumbuya on the flank to the Barnstaple centre-back placing the ball into the back of his own net to gift Rovers the early lead.

Despite difficult playing conditions, Rovers' passing and distribution was at times superb, with the home side unable to create a single chance on goal. Midfielder Martin Woods had some fierce shots parried away by the often uncomfortable Barnstaple Town 'keeper Jamie Pow, with Simon Gillett also coming close.
However it was Rovers' dead ball ability and long-range distribution which resulted in the South Yorkshire side adding three more goals before half time. On 23 minutes, a corner kick from the right by Woods - just seconds after James Hayter was thwarted by Pow - was found by the head of Shelton Martis at the far post. The towering defender headed the ball into the top of the opposite corner of the net to double the lead, before Hird's superb drive from the right once more found home-town boy George Friend; who brought applause from all supporters in the ground after his subsequent header found the back of the net.

Simon Gillett finally grabbed his goal ten minutes before half time, when Stock's outstanding ball across the width of the pitch found Dumbuya. The defender laid it off for Gillett, who kept his head down and drilled the ball low into the far corner.

The introduction of Billy Sharp after the restart brought with it one of the fastest hat tricks in football; as Sharp struck three in the space of twelve minutes. The £1.15 million man turned and struck his first on the penalty spot, before heading home a Martin Woods cross for the second. His third was a tap-in after James Hayter's hard work; however Sharp would repay the favour as he crossed in for Hayter to head home Rovers eighth. A second own goal of the game from another Barnstaple centre back made it nine, before Robbie Clark, in the dying minutes of the game poked home the tenth.

Despite Barnstaple pulling a goal back, it was the Doncaster Rovers show in Barnstaple and fans left feeling it was worth the entrance fee.

Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods; Mustapha Dumbuya, Sam Hird, Adam Lockwood, Shelton Martis (Billy Sharp, 45'), George Friend; Simon Gillett (Josh Payne, 45'), Martin Woods, Brian Stock (Robbie Clark, 80), James Coppinger; James Hayter