Doncaster Rovers 2 Yeovil Town 1
Friday, 22nd November 2013 at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Skybet League Championship
Referee – Mr Stuart Attwell
Attendance – 6,620 (160 visitors)
It was back to business for the Rovers after the international break, with a visit from Yeovil in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Chris Brown was missing with an ankle injury but Federico Macheda had re-joined the club on loan from Manchester United.
The visitors kicked off but it was the Rovers who got the first strike at goal when Duffy tried a shot from 25 yards but he put wide.
Continuing to push on Rovers won a corner but the keeper, Dunn, made a good catch.
Rovers kept the pressure on and it paid off in the 12th minute when Duffy intercepted a crossfield Yeovil pass, gave to Macheda on his left, who crossed low to the middle where the oncoming FURMAN slammed it into the net from close range.
Yeovil hit back two minutes later by forcing three successive corners but nothing came from them.
Five minutes on and a free kick by Ralls on the Yeovil left was headed out for a Yeovil corner. This was cleared out to Ralls but he fired well wide from distance.
General midfield play took place for a spell then just before the half hour a free kick to Yeovil, in a central position 25yards out, was hit low through the wall by Ralls but Turnbull went down to his left to save at the foot of the post.
Rovers relieved the pressure and won a corner but nothing came of it.
As the last five minutes came up the visitors put the pressure on.
A low cross from their left was palmed away by Turnbull, and with Hoskins unable to get to it the ball was cleared by Khumalo.
Then the referee awarded Yeovil a free kick on their left touchline halfway inside the Rovers half. The ball was placed past the far post where Shane Duffy headed it back to the middle for former Rovers player, WEBSTER, to fire into the net from close range in the 44th minute.
Four minutes of added time brought no further incidents and the teams went in for their half time break all square at one goal apiece.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 1 Yeovil Town 1
Rovers got the second half under way and immediately went on the attack but they were repulsed.
They continued to enjoy most of the possession over the first ten minutes or so.
The 54th minute saw Macheda put the ball out to Wabara on the left, He played down the line to Duffy, who cut inside before squaring to Quinn, who hit a rasping shot from 30 yards but Dunn saved.
Rovers then won a corner, which brought a shout for a penalty for handball against a Yeovil player.
The referee said no chance but immediately gave a foul for another incident of handball a yard outside the penalty area. Cotterill took the kick and shot low through the wall but Dunn got down well and saved.
Just past the hour and Davis drove forward before shooting from 20yards but Turnbull beat it away.
Then Hoskins had a go from the edge of the area but Turnbull was there to save again.
A minute after coming on Coppinger was brought down in the area but the referee said no chance of a spot kick.
Then, a free kick on the Rovers left was placed to the far post by Coppinger but the giant keeper, Dunn, collected the ball off Khumalo’s head.
A corner to the visitors was cleared and the Rovers attacked again with Coppinger crossing from the right and causing problems in the Yeovil defence.
In the 80th minute, Macheda put out to Duffy on the left for him to cut inside and shoot but Dunn saved.
Furman then fouled Upson and received a second booking and consequently got first use of the showers.
Rovers attacked again, with Quinn chipping to the far top corner of the goal but Dunn tipped it away for a corner. Then, in the 82nd minute, the Rovers were awarded a free kick on their left touchline halfway in the Yeovil half. A fierce low drive from DUFFY flashed across the goal and into the far corner of the net.
In the 90th minute Turnbull made a flying save to his right to save from a Hayter header.
Four minutes of added time were safely negotiated and Rovers had gained a win and three points.
It wasn’t a classic but it was fiercely contested and kept a sparse crowd warm on a cold night.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 2 (Furman 12 Duffy 82) Yeovil Town 1 (Webster 44)
Teams – ROVERS – Ross Turnbull; Paul Quinn, Bongani Khumalo, Luke McCullough, Reece Wabara; David Cotterill, Dean Furman, Richie Wellens ©, Mark Duffy; Federico Macheda, Theo Robinson
Subs used – James Coppinger for Cotterill 65 mins; Billy Paynter for Robinson 68 mins; Marc de Val for Macheda 87 mins;
Subs not used – Liam Wakefield, Alex Peterson, Evan Finnegan, Jon Maxted gk
Caution – Furman, 28 mins; Wabara 59 mins; Furman, 80 mins;
Sent Off – Furman 80 mins, 2 cautions
Yeovil Town – Chris Dunn; Luke Ayling, Byron Webster, Joe Edwards, Jamie McAllister ©, Ed Upson, Frazer Fyvie, Sam Hoskins, Shane Duffy, Joe Ralls, Joel Grant
Subs used – Kevin Dawson for Fyvie 29 mins; Liam Davis for McAllister 39 mins; James Hayter for Hoskins 74 mins;
Subs not used – Sam Foley, Liam Fontaine, Paddy Madden, Gareth Stewart gk
Caution – Hoskins, 66 mins;