- by Chris Mortley at Upcott Field

Steve Brooker made his long-awaited return from injury in Wednesday night's Joma South West Challenge Cup game against Havant & Waterlooville; however it wasn't enough to stop Rovers falling by five goals to nil.

Brooker was named as a substitute for the game, with the injuries to Rovers players looking evident from the outset. The likes of skipper Brian Stock, James Coppinger and the impressive Mustapha Dumbuya were all left on the bench, whilst Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll handed starts to trailists Josh Payne and Joel Grandison.

It was the Rovers who started the first half the brightest, donned in their new red and white hooped shirts. Northern Irish international midfielder Dean Shiels had the best chance for the Rovers on the quarter hour mark. Shiels linked up well with Fairhurst and Sharp to break inside the area, only to see his shot saved well by Havant & Waterlooville 'keeper Aaron Howe.

Five minutes later and Rovers again came closer to breaking the deadlock. George Friend, who has played in all of Rovers' pre-season friendlies, struck a speculative cross into the area which was met by Billy Sharp. The record signing's header was powerful, but once again Howe was equal to it.

Havant & Waterlooville worked hard and their work paid off on the 23rd minute when the game turned on its head. Havant were awarded a throw in on the left hand side which was launched into the area and scruffily cleared by the Rovers defence. The ball fell to striker Steve Ramsey who struck a shot low beyond Neil Sullivan to give Havant & Waterlooville the lead.

That lead was doubled on the half hour mark in similar fashion, as another long throw on the left from Jon McDonald found defender Sam Pearce in acres of space inside the area. The centre half got his head down and lashed another low shot beyond Sullivan.

The third Havant goal was undeniably the best of the bunch, with the Hawks awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Striker Mustapha Tyriaki stepped up and unleashed a superb driven shot above the Rovers wall and into the far left corner of Sullivan's net to give Rovers' boss Sean O'Driscoll some food for thought in the second half.

O'Driscoll's well-known disappointment at the tournament ruling of three playable substitutes was evident from the restart, with Brian Stock and James Coppinger wearing the shirts of Simon Gillett and Dean Shiels. However the newcomers didn't make things better for Rovers, as hard-working Havant & Waterlooville continued to press. Within five minutes of the second half, Havant were four-up, after a free kick from the right was picked up by Pearce once more at the far post. Rovers tried their best, with Waide Fairhurst and trialist Josh Payne launching speculative shots.

Cue the biggest cheer of the game, when Steve Brooker replaced Waide Fairhurst and received a chorus of applause from the attending Rovers fans. Brooker didn't see too much of the ball and the game was killed off five minutes from time, when Sam Hird's innocuous challenge inside the area led to Havant being awarded a penalty. Hopkinson struck the ball hard into the back of the net to seal Havant's victory against a Rovers side filled with knocks.

Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan; Robbie Clark, Sam Hird, Shelton Martis, George Friend (Mustapha Dumbuya, 50'); Josh Payne, Joel Grandison (Adam Lockwood, 70'), Simon Gillett (Brian Stock, 45'), Dean Shiels (James Coppinger, 45'); Waide Fairhurst (Steve Brooker, 80'), Billy Sharp