A nostalgic glance at games gone by between Scunthorpe United and Doncaster Rovers.
As Rovers prepare for an important derby clash against local rivals Scunthorpe United on Saturday, www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk will take a look back at some tasty derbies between the two sides over the years.With former Rovers midfielder Russ Wilcox at the helm of the Iron, there will be a lot riding on the weekend’s fixture at Glanford Park (3pm).
Game 1
Sat January 21st 2006
League One
Scunthorpe United 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Following defeat to Arsenal in the dying seconds of a League Cup quarter final, Dave Penney’s Rovers side had gone on a barren run. With no wins in the five games following the penalty shootout loss to the Gunners, the Belle Vue side made the short trip to North Lincolnshire looking to revive their season and mount a play-off push.
A typically fractious and frenetic game at Glanford Park in front of nearly 7,000 fans ensued, yet the first half remained goalless.
Brian Laws changed things at half time for the hosts and his substitute Jim Goodwin broke the deadlock just moments later; the Republic of Ireland midfielder heading home Michael Rose’s cross past Belfast born Alan Blayney.
Rovers roared back though, and in keeping with the Celtic theme, Michael McIndoe bagged his eighth goal in fifteen games to bring the visitors level, just after the hour mark.
The Scottish winger had famously set Rovers on their way against Arsenal just a month prior, and was doing so again here.
In the dying embers of the game, Penney’s men pushed forward and, when the ball dropped kindly to Graeme Lee, the Sheffield Wednesday loanee controlled the ball from some 25 yards out before unleashing a dipping volley past a despairing Tom Evans in the Iron goal seconds from time.
There was still time left for a twenty man brawl in which Steve Torpey and James Coppinger were given their marching orders and cap off a memorable afternoon.
Rovers would finish the season in 8th place, some 4 places and 9 points better off than Scunthorpe.
Rovers - A Blayney, N Fenton, M Albrighton, G Lee, S McDaid, D Mulligan (J Coppinger, 61), P Green, S Thornton, M McIndoe, P Heffernan, R McCormack (L Guy, 82).
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available HERE.