Town 0 Doncaster Rovers 1
Town: Chris Weale, Jermaine Grandison, Luke Summerfield, Darren Jones, Mark Wright (Asa Hall 78), Matt Richards, Marvin Morgan, Lee Collins, Paul Parry, Terry Gornell, Aaron Wildig ( Ryan Doble 85)
Subs: Joe Anyon, Rob Purdie, Michael Hector, Jon Taylor, Connor Goldson
Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods, Paul Quinn, Tommy Spurr (c ), Shelton Martis, James Husband, Kyle Bennett, David Cotterill, David Syers (Chris Brown 73), James Harper, Iain Hulme, Billy Paynter ( Paul Keegan 63)
Subs: Neil Sullivan, Michael Woods, Robbie Blake, Harry Middleton, Liam Wakefield
Ref: Richard Clark
Assistants: P Gooch & P Marsden
Fourth Official: A Greenwood
Attendance: 6637 (458)
Graham Turner makes the one change to the starting line-up with Terry Gornell coming into replace Sam Winnall who picked up a hamstring in the 0-0 draw at Brentford on Tuesday night.
The home side got their noses in front with less than 3 minutes on the clock after Cotterill had made a burst into the box, Matt Richards slid in to try and nick the ball away but caught the man and ref Clark pointed straight to the spot. Billy Paynter placed the ball and drove in a good spot kick that gave Weale no chance to make it 1-0 to Doncaster.
Doncaster were putting some concerted pressure onto Town but by and large the visitors were answering the questions being asked. When they got the chances though Town were taking the game to the homeside with Wright and Parry getting good deliveries into the box and Morgan and Gornell were making nuisances of themselves.
It was a turning into pretty open and attacking game with both sides looking to get forward when they could. This in turn was making it a bit of a stop start affair with neither side edging the possession or play.
On the half hour mark Terry Gornell challenged for a cross in the box, he got something onto the ball but then looked to be in some pain and limping, and after play had broke down he went to ground holding his knee. After treatment from physio Chris Skitt it became apparent that Gornell was not in any state to carry on and he was replaced by Jon Taylor with Mark Wright pushing up front along side Marvin Morgan.
Town had a half sight of goal just before the break when Marvin Morgan sprung the Rovers offside trap, he got in front of the home defence and was in on goal but just as he approached the edge of the Rovers box a foot nicked it to take the ball away. Town were finishing the half strong but the home side were digging in to go in at the break with the 1-0 advantage.
Town 0 Doncaster 1
It was frustrating start to the second half for Town who couldn't really get going, there was an early half chance for Paul Parry but it took until the 10 minute mark for Town to trouble the Doncaster goal again. This time they went really close to levelling after Marvin Morgan rose well to meet a good delivery, his header left Woods in the Donny goal rooted to the spot but it flew just wide of the mark.
Town were starting to look more of a threat as the half wore on and the home fans were beginning to get frustrated. Paul Parry had come more central and looked to have dropped in behind Morgan with Mark Wright pushing out to the left of midfield with Jon Taylor onto the right. This was giving Town more of an attacking edge and the chances were beginning to come.
It was the visitors who were creating all the chances but they still couldn't get the goal to put the score back on level terms. Morgan, Parry and Taylor all had chances but the best came after Luke Summerfield found space down the right handside and drove towards goal, he drilled in a low shot that Woods did well to get down and parry but the Donny keeper couldn't hold it and the ball came back across the front of goal but no Town player had gambled and the easy tap in went begging.
With 12 minutes remaining Graham Turner made his second change of the afternoon brining on Asa Hall to replace Mark Wright, Hall looked to be dropping in behind Morgan with Parry going back out onto the wings. Then with 5 minutes remaining the last sub was made with Ryan Doble on to replace Aaron Wildig.
Town continued to push as the game entered the 4 minutes of extra time and continued to create half chances for Asa Hall and then Paul Parry but in the end it wasn't to be and it was another game with no points for Town.
Town 0 Doncaster Rovers 1