Other reports : Nationwide site; BBC Sport; DRFC official site; YTFC official site; Bristol Evening Post; www.doncasterrovers.co.uk;
Venue: Huish Park
Sat 19th October 2002, 3pm kick-off.
Conditions: Sunny following early frost.
Ground: Perfect.
Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 1 - 1 Doncaster Rovers
Att: 6,674
Referee: Mr G Singh
Bookings:
Yeovil: Pluck (36, unsporting behaviour), Crittenden (40, dissent)
Doncaster: Marples (17, unsporting behaviour), Morley (34, unsporting behaviour), Albrighton (78, unsporting behaviour)
Line up : (3-4-1-2)
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 12. Jon Sheffield |
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 2. Adam Lockwood |
 14. Roy O'Brien |
 5. Colin Pluck |
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 10. Nick Crittenden |
 6. Darren Way |
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 8. Lee Johnson |
 11. Michael McIndoe |
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 20. Gavin Williams |
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 16. Andy Lindegaard |
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 23. Howard Forinton |
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Substitutes: 1. Chris Weale, 4. Terry Skiverton (45, for Pluck), 9. Carl Alford (81, for Lindegaard), 12. Chris Giles, 19. Abdoulai Demba (58, for Forinton)
Doncaster Rovers: (3-5-2) 1. Andy Warrington, 2. Simon Marples, 3. Tim Ryan, 4. David Morley,
5. Dean Barrick, 6. Mark Albrighton, 28. Danny Hudson, 27. Ben Muirhead, 14. Andy Watson, 9. Paul Barnes, 10. Justin Jackson
Subs : 11. Jamie Paterson (62, for Muirhead), 13. Stuart Nelson, 15. Robert Gill.
18. Jamie Price (73, for Watson), 23. Stephen Foster
Scorers: Danny Hudson (1, 0-1), Gavin WILLIAMS (15, 1-1)
HONOURS EVEN, BUT YEOVIL GO FIVE POINTS CLEAR.
This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:
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Darren Way attempts to regain possession from a Doncaster player
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers played out this top-of-the-table encounter
in front of the season's best Conference gate of 6675 at Huish Park. Yeovil
Town failed to repeat their usual demolition display against a capable,
solid, and often dangerous Doncaster Rovers side. Neither team will be happy
to "drop" two points, but both teams will have reason to celebrate this
afternoon's events: Doncaster will be happy to have visited Huish Park and
maintained a five-point deficit, rather than slipping three points behind;
Yeovil will be happy to have increased their points advantage at the top of
the table, due to Chester's failure at Woking. More importantly Yeovil will
be happy to maintain their unbeaten record: not losing, as well as winning,
is a habit - and Yeovil are keen to maintain that habit. That said: it took a
strike of supreme Williams class to draw Yeovil back on level terms.
Gary Johnson was faced with the unenviable choice of reinstating leading
goal-scorers, club captain Terry Skiverton, after suspension, and Abdoulai
Demba, after injury, or sticking with the same line-up responsible for
demolishing Telford just six days earlier. At the end of the day, the Gaffer
went with the previous week's team. But after a minutes play he may have
regretted that decision.
After a kick-off delayed by fifteen minutes due to crowd congestion Doncaster
got off to the perfect start: opening the scoring in the first minute. The
Yeovil defence back-peddled as the first Doncaster attack swarmed forward.
Their first strike on goal, by Danny HUDSON, deflected off a Yeovil defender's leg
and as John Sheffield had committed himself to his left, the ball dribbled
off to the right and ended up nestling at the bottom of the Yeovil goal:
Yeovil 0 Doncaster 1. Huish Park had begun to believe itself invincible and
the sense of disbelief around the ground could be felt.
For a few minutes Yeovil were disjointed. Doncaster forced the first corner
of the game; Roy O'Brien needed to be on hand to cut out a Doncaster attack.
But Yeovil worked their way back into the game: Crittenden winning Yeovil's
first free kick on the edge of the Doncaster box, McIndoe's cross was headed
closely over by Lindegaard.
By the twelfth minute Yeovil were on top, putting together multi-man moves:
Forinton and Lindegaard combined for the later to strike, but Warrington took
his shot with ease. Two minutes later Lindegaard played in Crittenden, but
the Doncaster defence shepherded the danger away for a Yeovil throw. From the
throw the ball was fed to Gavin WILLIAMS who moved forwards and from
twenty-two yards unleashed a shot of supreme accuracy. Donny keeper,
Warrington, with all of his six foot thirteen height advantage was unable to
get close with a fingertip, let alone keep the ball out of the net. As the
ball ricocheted off the right angle the Main Stand briefly wondered who would
be following up, but the short was of impeccable accuracy and was safely
cradled under the goal netting. Yeovil 1 Doncaster 1.
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Howard Forinton in action
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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The remainder of the half provided opportunities for both sides, Yeovil
defended nervously and tended to defend deep and throw up the long ball,
Doncaster relied on the occasional counter-attack. Yeovil have been perfect
at working the ball into the box in recent weeks, so it was somewhat
disappointing to see them revert, unsuccessfully, to the typical Conference
approach.
McIndoe won a free kick in the Doncaster half, but Johnson's curling cross
drifted wide of the far post with no Yeovil striker getting a decisive touch.
When Yeovil played football it was invariably through Williams, but by now,
Doncaster were fearful of Williams' ability, and ably shepherded him away to
the wings, and away from danger.
Despite Yeovil enjoying the majority of the control, Doncaster showed that
they were dangerous when breaking, Yeovil had Pluck to thank for clearing a
left wing attack: a perfect low cross to the far post was initially blocked
by Pluck. The ball fell behind him and it was fortunate that he regained his
bearings before any Doncaster striker could capitalise further.
At the other end Williams and Lindegaard set up McIndoe, but the Yeovil
captain was unable to create enough space for a decisive shot. Mr. Singh,
admired in previous appearances, reiterated the fallacy that flattery will
get you anywhere as he continually blotted his copy-book by following the
policy of: "if there is a foul in the penalty area - give a free kick against
the attacker". Time and time again Forinton was manhandled in the box, only
to be penalised for "backing-in". What a cop out.
As the first half draw to its conclusion it was Pluck, then O'Brien, who were
called into action to produce last ditch tackles to keep Doncaster at bay.
The final action of the first half was acted out in the Doncaster box:
Firstly, Lindegaard's trickery winning a free kick that Lee Johnson again
curled past the far post. Secondly, Lindegaard used his speed to beat
Warrington to a McIndoe through-ball, but Lindy's touch and speed had taken
him wide and his shot from a tight angle was off target.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Doncaster rovers 1.
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Nick Crittenden forces his way into the Doncaster penalty box
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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At the start of the second half Yeovil replaced the struggling Puck with
Skiverton. Immediately Skivvo was in action, not in defence, but in the
Doncaster penalty area. Yeovil started the second half looking to snatch the
all-important winner. They were, for the first fifteen minutes, over
Doncaster like the proverbial rash: much pressure, and many corners
culminating in firstly Skiverton, then Lockwood, heading in on goal. But
Doncaster held firm. They rode their luck and appeared eventually happy to
settle for the draw.
Demba replaced Forinton on 57 minutes but Doncaster were by now defending
deep, consequently his pace was less of a threat. Despite Yeovil maintaining
the greater level of possession Way and Johnson were unable to find Demba
with their crosses and utilise his height.
On the counter-attack Doncaster looked dangerous: Sheffield pulled off an
incredible right-handed save from Albrighton's deflected header.
On eighty minutes McIndoe's free kick found Crittenden on the right wing: he
beat Paterson to centre for Lindegaard at the near post. Unfortunately, the
cross was slightly behind the Yeovil striker and his header looped over the
Doncaster bar rather than powering goal-ward. That was the last action for
Lindy, Alford replaced him a minute later. The last few minutes saw Alford
volley a Crittenden cross at the back post but, again, the Doncaster defence
blocked well.
Full Time: Yeovil Town 1 Doncaster Rovers 1.
At the end of the day Yeovil were always guaranteed to be at the top of the
league - that is supremely important. In avoiding defeat they maintained
their advantage over Doncaster. With Chester stumbling over recent weeks
Doncaster now appear to be the major threat. Yeovil have a good record against
Doncaster with two draws at Huish Park and two wins at Belle Vue last season.
So who knows what will happen later on in the season? Yeovil were not the
same side that thrashed Southport or Telford, they reverted to, or were
forced to revert to the typical Conference long ball game. With the players
on the park today that is not appropriate. Yeovil may have maintained
possession but they conceded domination. That, if anything, is of concern.
Noddy Elms
Internet Man of the Match Result:
Player |
MOTM |
Score |
Gavin Williams |
21 |
556 |
Roy O'Brien |
10 |
372 |
Michael McIndoe |
7 |
224 |
Colin Pluck |
5 |
168 |
Adam Lockwood |
4 |
148 |
Andy Lindegaard |
1 |
80 |
Jon Sheffield |
1 |
76 |
Darren Way |
1 |
60 |
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Overall match rating: 6.9 / 10
Performance: 6.7
Entertainment: 7.2
50 votes received.
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Michael McIndoe holds off a Doncaster player
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard finds two markers chasing him down the right wing
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams on a left wing run
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Nick Crittenden has little space in midfield
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe cuts into the centre of midfield
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams is mobbed by his team-mates as the Westland Stand goes wild for Yeovil's equaliser
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Abdoulai Demba looks to get past Doncaster's Tim Ryan
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard gets in a flying volley that went over the bar
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe aims to outwit Doncaster's Ben Muirhead
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams battles with Doncaster central defender Mark Albrighton
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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A Terry Skiverton header goes narrowly over the bar
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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More of Michael McIndoe and Doncaster's Ben Muirhead
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard looks for a chance to get a cross in
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams is supported by Nick Crittenden in a right-wing attack
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard leaves a Doncaster defender gasping for breath
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe on yet another left wing move
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Carl Alford sprints for a through-ball
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard in action - this picture shows just how stunning the Huish Park pitch is at present
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams breaks away from his marker
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe gets in a shot from the edge of the area
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Andy Lindegaard in another right-wing move
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe makes his way down the touchline
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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