Doncaster Rovers

Henderson brace earns Rochdale three points at the Keepmoat.
Rovers - 0
Rochdale - 2 (Henderson 84’ , 90+5')

Saturday 21st November, 2015
Keep moat Stadium, Doncaster
SkyBet League One

It was a scrappy start to the game with neither side showing any real threat on goal early on. Rovers looked the stronger of the two sides and won a string of corners in quick succession after putting the visitors under pressure.

Everton loanee Conor Grant caused the Dale defence constant problems as he made a number of very positive runs through the middle. Chesting the ball down and volleying at goal on the turn, he forced a good save from Pereira.

Shortly before half time Rochdale had their best chance of the half as Donal McDermott got on the end of a long ball. Finding himself in space he saw Thorsten Stuckmann off his line and tried a lob over the Rovers man, but his effort was just wide of the post.

Castro Pereira made a brilliant save in stoppage time to deny Andy Williams. Great work from Coppinger gave him space in the box to pull the ball back for the striker, hitting it first time Williams' shot was heading for the bottom corner but for the fingertips of the Rochdale keeper.

That was the action of the half and the sides went in level with all to play for in the second half.

HALF TIME: Rovers 0-0 Rochdale

Like the first, it was a very slow start to the second half. The first chance fell to the visitors as McDermott delivered a deadly ball in towards the back post. With the Rochdale man waiting to head in from 4 yards, Craig Alcock was at full stretch to put it behind for a corner.

Darren Ferguson introduced Keshi Anderson into the game but the strikers spell was short-lived as he left the field with a suspected broken leg after a strong collision with Oliver Lancashire.

Some fantastic build up play by Rovers eventually allowed Cedric Evina to cross deep for Felipe Mattioni at the back post, volleying dangerously across the face of goal his effort was put behind by the Rochdale defender.

With five minutes to play the visitors took the lead as they caught Rovers on the counter attack.

Rovers looked as though they were going to take the lead as Grant skipped past his man before playing a low ball across the box for Coppinger. The Rovers skipper fired at goal but a very good block by McNulty denied him. On the counter McDermott found Ian Henderson unmarked in the box who was able to curl the ball into the top corner.

Despite there being five minutes of added time, Rovers were unable to find the equaliser and as the home side threw men forward Rochdale doubled their lead.

Despite Stuckmann making a great save initially the ball was played across the box for Henderson to poke in from 3 yards.

Team Lineups-

Rovers: Stuckmann, Butler, Evina, Alcock, Taylor-Sinclair, Grant, Coppinger (c), Middleton, Tyson (Anderson 57’) (N’Guessan 74’), Williams, Felipe (Stewart 87’)

Unused Subs: Marosi, N'Guessan, Forrester, Whitehouse, Davies

Cautions: Williams 8'

Rochdale: Castro Pereira, Bennett, McNulty, Lancashire, Vincenti (Andrew 62’), McDermott, Cannon, Camps (Rose 87’), Kennedy, Bunney (Mendez-Laing 81’), Henderson

Unused Subs:Lillis, Eastham, Alessandra, Tanser

Cautions: Cannon 22’, Henderson 33’, Rose 90'

Attendance: 6,125 (276)

Read more at http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/-report-rovers-0-2-rochdale-2811325.aspx#cchCKiyyuD74epuu.99