Doncaster suffer defeat in FA Cup.
Saturday, 4th January 2014 at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
FA CUP 3rd Round
Referee – Mr Scott Duncan
Attendance – 3,899 (324 visitors)
It’s FA Cup time again, this time with a third Round tie against bottom of League 1, Stevenage. Their manager had a good look at our team on New Years Day at Queens Park Rangers so they will be out to spring a surprise.
Rovers made changes following Wednesday’s match at QPR. David Syers was recalled from Scunthorpe United, Martin Woods came in and Chris Brown started as Richie Wellens was unavailable, Theo Robinson was injured and Federico Macheda’s loan had ended.
Rovers got the game underway but the first ten minutes or so produced very little other than midfield play.
Then, in the 11th minute, Duffy got the first strike at goal of the game but his low shot from 25yards was saved comfortably by Day.
On the quarter hour Morais, for the visitors, cut in from the right but his tame left footed effort was well wide.
Minutes later Furman tried his luck from 25yards but put his effort wide. Then Cotterill followed this by shooting over from a central position from distance.
In the 27th minute Wakefield went down the Rovers right and lifted a good cross to the far post where Brown headed wide.
Either side of the half hour and Stevenage were awarded free kicks, first from the left and then from the right. The first one was headed over the bar by Jones at the far post and the second one headed wide by Haber at the far post.
In a good spell for the visitors Freeman then lifted the ball goalwards from the left of goal for an easy catch by Turnbull.
In the 39th minute a corner to the visitors brought a header at the far post from Haber but he put wide of the post. Then a cross from the Stevenage right by Morais, was headed on goal by Jones, but Turnbull saved essily.
As time ran down to the break Freeman put wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 0 Stevenage 0
Doncaster started the second half well but in the 49th minute, the first incursion into the Rovers half by the visitors saw Quinn slip and let in ZOKO, who slotted past the oncoming Turnbull for the opening goal.
This geed the visitors up and in the 55th minute following a corner, Haber met it at the far post with a header that Turnbull saved.
In the 57th minute the Rovers made a double substitution, Forrester and Paynter replacing Cotterill and Furman.
However, the visitors were making the running and past the hour they won a couple of corners, the second of which produced a second goal for Stevenage when HARTLEY bulleted a header into the net in the 64th minute.
Rovers withstood further attacks before beginning to hit back. In the 72nd minute the ball was headed out of the Stevenage defence to FORRESTER, who rifled into the net from 20yards.
Stevenage didn’t allow Doncaster to have it all their own way and, playing on the break, were catching Rovers short at the back but only winning corners.
In the 87th minute Woods had a go from 35 yards that Day saved easily.
Then, as the fourth official was showing six minutes added time, a Rovers attack broke down and Stevenage broke quickly down their right, with four against the Rovers two. The ball was played inside to the unmarked CHARLES, who had the simple task of firing it into the net.
In the third minute of added time, a corner to Stevenage came out to Freeman, whose low shot from outside of the penalty area forced Turnbull to dive full length to his left to push the ball away.
Five minutes into added time and a long cross from Duffy, on the Rovers left, to WAKEFIELD on the right, was chipped over the keeper into the far top corner of the net.
However, it was too little too late and the whistle went to end Rovers hopes of a Cup run.
Result – Doncaster Rovers 2 (Forrester 72 Wakefield 90+5) Stevenage 3 (Zoko 49 Hartley 64 Charles 90)
Teams – ROVERS – Ross Turnbull; Liam Wakefield, Paul Quinn ©, Luke McCullough, Enda Stevens; David Cotterill, Dean Furman, Martin Woods, Mark Duffy; David Syers, Chris Brown
Subs used – Harry Forrester for Cotterill 57 mins; Billy Paynter for Furman 57 mins; Kyle Bennett for Brown 72 mins;
Subs not used – Bongani Khumalo, Marc de Val, Alex Peterson, Jon Maxted gk
Caution – Furman 51 mins; Turnbull 90+7 mins;
Stevenage – Chris Day; Luke Jones, Jon Ashton ©, Ben Chorley, Peter Hartley; Filipe Morais, Michael Doughty, Dean Parrett, Luke Freeman; Francois Zoko, Marcus Haber
Subs used – Sam Wedgbury for Parrett 74 mins; Bruno Andrade for Morais 74 mins; Darius Charles for Haber 78 mins;
Subs not used - Jordan Burrow, Lucas Akins, Jimmy Smith, Steve Arnold gk