Match 39
20th January 1990
Doncaster Rovers (a)
SATURDAY 20th JANUARY -
DONCASTER ROVERS 2
EXETER CITY 1
City's first Fourth Division away game under Terry Cooper was a woeful 2-1 defeat at Doncaster, and City were again defeated by the same score on our second visit to Belle Vue.
Prior to this season's clash, Doncaster were in the middle of something of a revival with some impressive home results - but none impressed as much as this one against an Exeter side threatening to run away with the title. Rovers just about deserved the points on the balance of play, but they were helped by the questionable attitude of the City players in the first half.
Nothing though can be taken away from Rovers who, when they get their act together, can prove themselves to be a potent attacking force. They took the lead through the speedy Mark Rankine, who outsprinted Jim McNichol, not too difficult that, I know, and drove past Kevin Miller.
Gaughan and Jones (a heavyweight boxing contest between him and Richard Young would have been interesting), also kept the City defence on their toes. Meanwhile, at the other end, Mark Samways saved superbly from a McNichol header and an unknown defender cleared a Benjamin shot off the line. Benji really should have smashed it home quite conclusively as he was only ten yards out, but I'm afraid this wasn't one of his greatest days by any means.
Rovers' second goal was very controversial and as Terry. suggested the referee was probably the only person in the ground who thought that it was a penalty. Kevin Noteman fell over Miller's body after losing control of the ball, but much to our Kev's dismay, the bast... man in black gave the award from at least thirty yards away. Les Robinson duly converted the spot kick.
Steve Neville looked to have sparked a City fightback after fifty-three minutes. Scott Hiley, without a goal all season, bursting through from the half-way line to see his shot parried as far as Nevs who lashed it home to repeat his opening day goalscoring feat against Donnie.
However, despite lots of attacking enterprise and plenty of chances for both sides the score defiantly stayed at 2-1 to the homesters, and even Terry was using that time honoured Exeter City motto "I just had that feeling it wasn't going to be our day".
DONCASTER TEAM:
Samways, Robinson, Brevett, Rankine, Ashurst, Douglas, Adams (Morrow 73), Stiles, Noteman, Jones, Gaughan.
CITY TEAM
Miller, Hiley, Benjamin, McNichol, Taylor, Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey, McDermott (Rogers 84), Neville, Elkins.
SCORERS 1-0 Rankine 9, 2-0 Robinson 38, 2-1 Neville 53.
ATTENDANCE: 3,492 (220 City fans).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Danny Bailey.
DONCASTER ROVERS 2
EXETER CITY 1
City's first Fourth Division away game under Terry Cooper was a woeful 2-1 defeat at Doncaster, and City were again defeated by the same score on our second visit to Belle Vue.
Prior to this season's clash, Doncaster were in the middle of something of a revival with some impressive home results - but none impressed as much as this one against an Exeter side threatening to run away with the title. Rovers just about deserved the points on the balance of play, but they were helped by the questionable attitude of the City players in the first half.
Nothing though can be taken away from Rovers who, when they get their act together, can prove themselves to be a potent attacking force. They took the lead through the speedy Mark Rankine, who outsprinted Jim McNichol, not too difficult that, I know, and drove past Kevin Miller.
Gaughan and Jones (a heavyweight boxing contest between him and Richard Young would have been interesting), also kept the City defence on their toes. Meanwhile, at the other end, Mark Samways saved superbly from a McNichol header and an unknown defender cleared a Benjamin shot off the line. Benji really should have smashed it home quite conclusively as he was only ten yards out, but I'm afraid this wasn't one of his greatest days by any means.
Rovers' second goal was very controversial and as Terry. suggested the referee was probably the only person in the ground who thought that it was a penalty. Kevin Noteman fell over Miller's body after losing control of the ball, but much to our Kev's dismay, the bast... man in black gave the award from at least thirty yards away. Les Robinson duly converted the spot kick.
Steve Neville looked to have sparked a City fightback after fifty-three minutes. Scott Hiley, without a goal all season, bursting through from the half-way line to see his shot parried as far as Nevs who lashed it home to repeat his opening day goalscoring feat against Donnie.
However, despite lots of attacking enterprise and plenty of chances for both sides the score defiantly stayed at 2-1 to the homesters, and even Terry was using that time honoured Exeter City motto "I just had that feeling it wasn't going to be our day".
DONCASTER TEAM:
Samways, Robinson, Brevett, Rankine, Ashurst, Douglas, Adams (Morrow 73), Stiles, Noteman, Jones, Gaughan.
CITY TEAM
Miller, Hiley, Benjamin, McNichol, Taylor, Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey, McDermott (Rogers 84), Neville, Elkins.
SCORERS 1-0 Rankine 9, 2-0 Robinson 38, 2-1 Neville 53.
ATTENDANCE: 3,492 (220 City fans).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Danny Bailey.
Creator
Paul F
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