Report: Rovers 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
DONCASTER ROVERS 1 Shrewsbury Town 0
Referee - Mr Richard Clark
Attendance – 6,437 (458 visitors)
The Rovers had to make changes, with Martin Woods and Jamie McCombe out with injury and Rob Jones also out suspended after five cautions. Shelton Martis and Tommy Spurr were the central defensive partnership, with James Husband at left back. New signing Michael Woods was on the substitutes bench.
The Rovers got off to a bright start and took an early lead in the third minute when Cotterill was brought down by Richards in the penalty area. PAYNTER duly rattled the back of the net with his kick from the penalty spot. In the 10th minute they had another “goal” ruled out for offside by Syers, who had “scored” at the far post from a cross by Bennett. The match then settled down to a more even game, with Gornell, for Shrewsbury heading wide from a good cross from their left by Morgan. A corner to the Shrews came to nothing as did one from the Rovers a few minutes later. General midfield play was the norm, with the teams exchanging corners again in the 21st minute. In the 35th minute a cross from the Rovers right by Quinn was knocked out of defence to Hume on the edge of the penalty area but his shot went high and wide. As time ran down to the break, a couple of corners to the visitors brought them no reward and the half ended with Summerfield being booked for a foul on Bennett. Neither keeper had been troubled but the Rovers went in one goal to the good.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 1 Shrewsbury Town 0
The Rovers got the second half underway but the visitors were first on the attack to win a corner but as previously nothing came from it and it was cleared. The Rovers then went on the attack, with Spurr’s long throws causing problems in the penalty area before being cleared. However, the visitors then piled on the pressure on the Rovers defence over the next fifteen minutes or so by playing the better football and keeping possession. Morgan headed wide from a good position in front of goal then Summerfield fired high over the bar following a corner and in the 63rd minute, Morgan was put clear on goal down the right, with the chasing Husband deflecting the shot for a corner. In the 66th minute, a good move on the Rovers left between Husband, Bennett and Syers gave Husband the chance to cut in but he fired into the sidenet. Three minutes later and a low cross from the Shrewsbury right to the near post was touched goalwards but Woods, diving to his right, touched the ball away and a teammate cleared. Then, Hume at the other end, received the ball on the edge of the Shrews penalty area and lobbed the keeper but the ball went the wrong side of the far post. In the 82nd minute, the ball was played through for Wildig, for Shrewsbury, but Woods was out quickly to collect it. The visitors continued to press to the end of four minutes of added time but couldn’t break through the Rovers defence. Shrewsbury had definitely had the better of the play in the second half but the Rovers held out.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 1 (Paynter 3 PEN) Shrewsbury Town 0
Teams – ROVERS – Gary Woods; Paul Quinn, Shelton Martis, Tommy Spurr ©, James Husband; David Cotterill, David Syers, James Harper, Kyle Bennett; Iain Hume, Billy Paynter
Subs used – Paul Keegan for Paynter 64 mins; Chris Brown for Syers 74 mins;
Subs not used –Robbie Blake, Michael Woods, Liam Wakefield, Harry Middleton, Neil Sullivan gk
Shrewsbury Town - Chris Weale; Jermaine Grandison, Darren Jones, Lee Collins, Matt Richards ©; Paul Parry, Luke Summerfield, Aaron Wildig, Mark Wright; Marvin Morgan, Terry Gornell
Subs used – Jon Taylor for Gornell 31 mins; Asa Hall for Wright 79 mins; Ryan Doble for Wildig 86 mins;
Subs not used – Rob Purdie, Connor Goldson, Michael Hector, Joe Anyon gk
Cautions – Summerfield 45 mins;