Doncaster Rovers

Colchester United 1

(Dickenson 16)

Doncaster Rovers 1

(Baudry 45)

Friday, April 14

Weston Homes Stadium

Sky Bet League Two

Rovers had to settle for a point at Colchester despite an impressive second-half performance at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Brennan Dickenson's smart finish had put the Essex side into an early lead, but Mathieu Baudry's header levelled the score just before the break.

Rovers pushed for a winner in the second-half, but could not find a way past the impressive home keeper Sam Walker.

Darren Ferguson made a couple of changes, with Marko Marosi and Conor Grant coming into the side. Ian Lawlor and Andy Williams made way after picking up injuries in training.

Rovers fell behind after 16 minutes. A ball across the area evaded everyone, with Brennan Dickenson allowed plenty of space to fire home a first-time effort which curled into the top right corner.

It almost got worse two minutes later when Chris Porter found space to smash a shot on goal - it came crashing back off Marosi's far post.

Rovers came close to a leveller on the hour mark through top scorer John Marquis. He broke down the left, cut inside to shoot, and only a goalline clearance form Tom Eastman denied him.

Marquis had another opportunity after 38 minutes when he did well to get to Grant's low delivery from the left, but his effort under pressure was hooked over.

Rovers did draw level in stoppage time, with Mathieu Baudry heading home from a Gary McSheffrey corner.

HALF-TIME | Colchester 1 Rovers 1

Ferguson made one change at the break, with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair coming on in place of goalscorer Baudry. Rovers also changed formation, switching to a back four.

Rovers were the first to threaten after the break, with McSheffrey clipping the base of the right-hand post with a curling effort from a central free-kick 25 yards out. 

It took 10 minutes for the home side to fashion a chance, which defender George Elokobi spooned over.

An offside flag stopped Tommy Rowe after he was played through by Marquis, as Rovers created chance after chance.

Matty Blair had the best, with Sam Walker pulling off a brilliant stop to deny him after Grant left his man for dead down the left.

Rovers had clearly stepped up a gear from the second half, with McSheffrey and Rowe exchanging passes before the former just could not get his shot away.

Alfie May entered the fray with half an hour to go, replacing McSheffrey, as Ferguson looked to push for a winner.

Rowe created a great opening after 64 minutes, blasting his way past one man then another before his shot was just about cleared.

Blair found some space down the right, too, with a great run beating his man after 66 minutes before his cross was put out for a corner by a diving header from Cameron James when it could have gone anywhere off the defender's head.

May almost put Rovers ahead after 69 minutes after springing the offside trap. He raced down on Walker, but the home keeper got down well to deny the Rovers man.

Rovers continued to push, with Marquis heading straight at Walker then flicking Grant's near-post cross just over.

Rowe also saw a piledriver blocked, but in the end Rovers had to settle for a point.

FULL-TIME: Colchester 1 Rovers 1

ROVERS XI | Marosi, Alcock, Butler, Baudry (Taylor-Sinclair), Blair, Rowe, McCullough, Mason, Grant, McSheffrey (May), Marquis. ROVERS SUBS | Jones, Wright, Middleton, Beestin, Longbottom.

BOOKED | Mason, Blair, May.

COLCHESTER XI | Walker, Brindley, Lapslie (Loft), Wright (Pyke), Porter (c), Dickenseon, Elokobi (Briggs), Eastman, Murray, Fosu, James. COLCHESTER SUBS | Brill, Wynter, O'Sullivan, Kinsella.

BOOKED | Eastman.

ATTENDANCE |  4,730 (716 away)