Rovers get well deserved win in the Central League fixture against Hartlepool United.
DONCASTER ROVERS U21 3 Hartlepool United U21 1
Tuesday, 15th October 2013 at Cantley Park, Doncaster
Central League East
Kick Off – 2.00pm
Rovers started off quite brightly with Griffin belying his age and getting forward on the right on several occasions. In the 5th minute De Val fed Griffin on the overlap, who took the ball on before cutting in and hitting a left foot shot going inside the near post before Rafferty dived to push it round the post. Minutes later Griffin again went on a rampaging run down the right before turning inside but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked and eventually cleared. Hartlepool retaliated with Walker having a couple of shots from distance, the first well over the bar and then a free kick going just wide.
In the 21st minute Griffin again got forward and his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. The 25th minute brought the first goal when, following a cross into the goalmouth, a melee developed before PETERSON got the final touch and stabbed into the net. Rovers turned on the pressure and in the 31st minute they were awarded a free kick about 25yards out. DE VAL took the kick and placed it perfectly into the top corner of the net with the keeper having no chance of reaching it. The 35th minute brought a third goal for Rovers.
Griffin sent Bennett down the right flank and a low cross to the middle was tapped in by PAYNTER. The last twenty minutes of the first half had been mostly Rovers pressure and they had taken full advantage.
Half Time - Doncaster Rovers 3 Hartlepool United 0
The second half opened with the visitors showing their intentions of putting Rovers on the back foot. In the 52nd minute a long ball out of the Rovers defence was headed on by Paynter and Thomas showing good pace got there first and a cracking shot from 25yards was well saved by Rafferty. The Pool hit back straight away, with Walker blasting a shot from the edge of the area against the underside of the bar but it bounced down and back into play. Then Hawkins, from right back, got forward and fired over the bar from 30yards. Franks on the Pool right was lively and just past the hour he had a low shot from 25yards saved by Maxted and minutes later he received in the penalty area, turned and fired over the bar.
Then Sweeney hit a low cross from the right for Smith to shoot past Maxted from close range but the keeper spread himself and blocked the shot. At the other end, Paynter, on the right, lifted the ball just over the bar. Franks, for the visitors, put over from the edge of the area and Smith hit a thunderous drive that had Maxted diving to his left to push away. However, the pressure from the visitors told in the 72nd minute when a corner fell to WRIGHT near the penalty spot and he rifled in.
The Pool kept pushing forward and in the 82nd minute Maxted punched a cross away but only as far as Rodney just inside the area but his shot was pushed round the post by Maxted diving to his left. As the clock ran down the Rovers got forward and Whincop had an effort saved followed later by a header that Rafferty saved comfortably. However, the whistle went on a win for the Rovers.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 3 (Peterson 25 De Val 31 Paynter 35) Hartlepool United 1 (Wright 72)
Teams – Doncaster Rovers – Jon Maxted; Andy Griffin, Jordan Binns, Liam Wakefield, Evan Finnegan; Kyle Bennett, Marc de Val, James Harper, Nathan Thomas; Billy Paynter, Alex Peterson
Subs used – Harry Middleton for De Val 46 mins; Chris Whincop for Peterson 67 mins; Lewis Ferguson for Thomas 76 mins;
Subs not used – Ben Askins, Mitchell Lund
Hartlepool United – Andy Rafferty; Lewis Hawkins, Darren Holden, Brad Walker, Jordan Richards, Josh Rowbotham, Jonathan Franks, Anthony Sweeney, Nialle Rodney, Greg Rutherford, Zak Boagey
Subs used – Jonny Wright for Rutherford 46 mins; Connor Smith for Boagey 46 mins;
Subs not used – Kieran Green, Ben Wignall, Callum Wood