Doncaster Rovers 2 - 0 Cheltenham Town

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Saturday Sep 29 2007 03:00

Doncaster clinched a comfortable home victory to ease the pressure on their under-fire manager Sean O'Driscoll.

Rovers were one of the pre-season promotion favourites, but have spent the early part of the campaign languishing in the bottom half of the table.

But they showed their quality in this match with some slick passing and the only criticism was that they should have had more goals to show for their dominance.

Rovers started in a lively fashion and set the pattern when Brian Stock had an angled volley well saved by Shane Higgs in the fifth minute.Adam Lockwood sent a header flashing across the face of goal following a tenth minute corner, before Mark Wilson had a left-foot effort saved four minutes later as Rovers kept up the pressure.

The Cheltenham defence finally cracked in the 18th minute when Lewis Guy raced onto a superb pass from James Hayter to flick the ball past the advancing Higgs and into the net.

Although they were being out-played, Cheltenham never gave up the fight and looked particularly dangerous at set pieces.Michael Townsend had a terrific header well saved by Neil Sullivan following a 39th minute free-kick and Ashley Vincent fired wide when he should have done better early in the second half.

But the visitors were left with a mountain to climb when Matthew Mills added the second with a diving header following a corner from Stock in the 58th minute.

Rovers had numerous chances to add to their score but Paul Heffernan was unlucky to see a shot cleared off the line and went close on two more occasions following goalmouth scrambles.

Town battled to the finish with hard-working striker Damian Spencer missing a good chance, before substitute Paul Connor had an overhead kick tipped onto the bar by Sullivan six minutes from time.

  • 90
    That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
  • 83
    Brian Stock is replaced by Stephen Roberts.
  • 78
    John Finnigan is replaced by Adam Connolly.
  • 78
    Doncaster are replacing Lewis Guy with Paul Green.
  • 69
    Cheltenham are replacing Andy Lindegaard with Paul Connor.
  • 69
    Cheltenham are replacing Lee Ridley with Andy Gallinagh.
  • 58
    Goal!! Doncaster have scored with Matthew Mills putting it in the back of the net.
  • 46
    Doncaster are replacing Gareth Roberts with Sean McDaid.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 0.
  • 45
    The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
  • 18
    Goal!! Doncaster have scored with Lewis Guy putting it in the back of the net.
  • 0
    It's 3pm on Saturday, September 29th, the match has kicked off.

Statistics

Doncaster Rovers
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 12
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 11
Offsides 2
Corners 10

Cheltenham Town
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 9
Offsides 2
Corners 10

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