Report: Carlisle United v Rovers
Tuesday, 20th November 2012 at Brunton Park, Carlisle
Npower League 1
Carlisle United 1 DONCASTER ROVERS 3
Referee – Mr Mark Brown
Attendance – 3,229
A cold evening just south of the Scottish border greeted the Rovers as they stepped out to meet Carlisle United for the first time in four years in a League game. The Rovers were unchanged from Saturday’s win at Portsmouth but their opponents made four changes following their defeat at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday. Danny Livesey, Matty Robson, David Symington and Joe Garner replaced Peter Murphy, Liam Noble, Kallum Higginbotham and Jon-Paul McGovern.
The Rovers attacked the Warwick Road end in the first half, with the home team getting the game underway. In the third minute Husband attacked down the left but his cross went awry. The Rovers were enjoying the better of the possession but not troubling Collin in the home goal until they won a corner in the 12th minute. This was eventually cleared but two minutes later and Hume, out on the right touchline put over a shot/cross to the far top corner of the goal where Collin managed to tip it over for a corner. Cotterill placed the corner to the penalty spot where the onrushing JONES bulleted it into the net with an unstoppable header. Immediately following the re-start, Hume received on the right, worked some room for himself and hit a left footer from the edge of the penalty area that hit the near post and bounced clear. Three minutes later and Martin Woods received from Hume and fired in a shot from 25yards that Collin could only knock up into the air to be cleared by his defenders. Immediately the Rovers returned to the attack and COTTERILL from 22 yards spotted Collin off his line and lifted the ball over him into the far top corner in the 18th minute. Minutes later and a Cotterill free kick from 30yards went straight to Collin who saved. Then a cross from the right by Symington nearly caught Gary Woods out but he managed to tip it over the bar. However a corner to the Rovers, a Cotterill shot wide and another corner followed as the Rovers continued to attack. But as the last ten minutes came up the home side began to make inroads on the Rovers defence, with Gary Woods busy in the Rovers goal. However, the half time whistle went with the Rovers still holding their two-goal lead.
Half Time – Carlisle United 0 Doncaster Rovers 2
The Rovers made a change at half time, with Martis replacing Jones, who had taken a knock. The home team were immediately on the attack but were repulsed, with Gary Woods again in action. In the 57th minute, Chantler lifted a high ball from just inside his own half into the Rovers penalty area where a high bounce made it necessary for Gary Woods to tip over. It was mainly the home team attacking, with Garner firing wide and Woods saving well from a low cross by Symington. Past the hour and the Rovers won a corner but nothing came from it. Then in the 66th minute, the home team were awarded a free kick about 35yards out. SYMINGTON took it and hit an unstoppable drive into the far top corner giving Woods no chance. Carlisle continued to have the better of the play but in the 76th minute the Rovers were awarded a free kick on their left. Cotterill placed it into the crowded penalty area and SPURR got highest to back-head past a stranded Collin. Back came Carlisle and won a corner, which came out of defence to Symington but he blazed high and wide from the angle of the area. A long clearance out of the Rovers defence was chased down by Brown and Edwards. Brown got the better of the Carlisle man and from an acute angle on the left fired across goal but past the far post. The Rovers now managed to even the game up by making attacking the best form of defence as the clock ran down. The Rovers seventh victory on the road was confirmed by the referee blowing for full time. The Rovers were now fourth in the League.
Result – Carlisle United 1 (Symington 66) Doncaster Rovers 3 (Jones 14 Cotterill 18 Spurr 76)
Teams – Carlisle United – Adam Collin; Frank Simek, Danny Livesey ©, Mike Edwards, Matty Robson; David Symington, Bradley Potts, James Berrett, Joe Chris Chantler; Garner, Mark Beck,
Subs used – Kallum Higginbotham for Garner 81 mins;
Subs not used – Jon Paul McGovern, Andy Welsh, Liam Noble, Josh Todd, Sean McCinty, Mark Gillespie gk
Caution – Garner 33 mins;
ROVERS – Gary Woods; Andy Griffin, Rob Jones ©, Tommy Spurr, James Husband; David Cotterill, Paul Keegan, James Harper, Martin Woods; Iain Hume, Billy Paynter
Subs used – Shelton Martis for Jones 46 mins; Chris Brown for Hume 68 mins; David Syers for Paynter76 mins;
Subs not used - Robbie Blake, Michael Woods, Jordan Ball, Jon Maxted gk
Caution – Cotterill 40 mins;