Report: Rovers 3 - 1 Bradford PA
DONCASTER ROVERS 3 Bradford Park Avenue 1
Referee – Mr Jeremy Simpson
Attendance – 4,062
It’s that time again this season – the FA Cup, with the Rovers joining in at the 1st Round stage for the first time in four years. Andy Griffin, Martin Woods and Sammy Clingan start. With Paul Quinn and James Harper dropping to the bench and Kyle Bennett out with a knee injury. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
The first ten minutes was a cagey affair as the Rovers tested the calibre of the visitors and finding them resolute in defence and capable of playing good football going forward. Both sides had a half chance in this period with crosses at each end going begging when nobody got a touch. The rovers seemed to be taking the game too casually as they stroked the ball around but getting nowhere and giving the visitors time to settle down. In the 17th minute, Bradford got the first corner of the game but it was cleared. The visitors had a good spell over the next six or seven minutes, with O’Brien, an ex Rover, scuffing a shot wide from 20yards in the 24th minute. This prompted Paynter at the other end to hit a cracking shot from 18yards that was going inside the post until a defender got in the way and deflected the ball wide for a corner. The corner kick came out of the defence to Clingan who shot wide from distance. The rovers were now building up a head of steam and in the 27th minute a good build-up down the right led to Hume crossing low to the middle where Keegan let the ball pass to Martin WOODS, who rifled in low and just inside the post from the edge of the penalty area. Past the half hour and M Woods put a twenty-five yarder just the wrong side of the post and Paynter was well wide with an effort from a similar distance. In the 35th minute a good build-up by the Rovers had Paynter sliding the ball through into the penalty area for Hume but a good tackle stopped him in his tracks. A minute later it was two goals to the Rovers when Paynter, on the right, crossed low to the middle where HUME sidefooted in. For some reason the last five minutes of the half got a bit feisty resulting in three names going into the referee’s book.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 2 Bradford Park Avenue 0
The visitors got the second half underway and spent the early minutes on the attack. A corner was won in the 49th minute but this was cleared. In the 52nd minute Spurr put a free kick into the Bradford penalty area where Paynter put it out to M Woods on the left edge of the area. His fierce drive was beaten away by Deasy at the near post. Then, a good build-up by Bradford on their left ended with MARSHALL from the left angle of the penalty area lifting the ball into the far top corner of the Rovers net. Back came the Rovers to win a corner but nothing came of it. It was an even game as the hour mark passed. In the 70th minute hume fired over the bar and five minutes later, Blake got to the left byline before crossing to the middle where a defender beat Brown to the header and put out for a corner. Keegan swung over the ball to the far post where BROWN headed in. Brown then had a shot saved and Blake and Keegan fired wide. In the 87th minute, a good run by Husband down the Rovers left ended with his shot being deflected for a corner. The corner came out to Martin Woods, who lifted it over the bar. Bradford battled to the last but it was the Rovers who moved on into the next Round.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 3 (Martin Woods 27 Hume 36 Brown 76) Bradford Park Avenue 1 (Marshall 56)
Teams – ROVERS – Gary Woods; Andy Griffin, Rob Jones (c), Tommy Spurr, James Husband; David Syers, Paul Keegan, Sammy Clingan, Martin Woods; Iain Hume, Billy Paynter
Subs used – Robbie Blake for Syers 42 mins; Chris Brown for Paynter 57 mins; Michael Woods for Hume 89 mins;
Subs not used – Paul Quinn, James Harper, Neil Sullivan gk
Caution – Griffin 45+1 mins;
Bradford PA – Tim Deasey; Michael Duckworth, Richard Marshall, James Knowles (c), Nathan Hotte, Alex Davidson, Rob O’Brien, Matty James, Jordan Deacey, Paul Walker
Subs used – Danny Holland for O’Brien 54 mins; Tom Greaves for James 70 mins; Ben Higginson for Deasy 82 mins;
Subs not used –Jamie Jackson, Craig Radcliffe, Ross Daly, Mark Hume,
Cautions – Drury 40 mins; Hotte 45+1 mins;