SkyBet EFL League One
at the Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster Rovers (0) 1
Danny Andrew 90
Accrington Stanley (2) 2
Sean McConville 17
Paul Smyth 44
Attendance: 7,222 (inc. 207 away fans)
In the event John Coleman's visitors finished the night some five points above the drop zone, in fourteenth place, while back to back defeats over the Easter weekend, mean that 'Donny' are hanging onto the last play off berth by their fingertips, just three points ahead of Peterborough United, who drew both of their bank holiday fixtures and have a game in hand over Grant McCann's side, but Rovers do however, have a better goal difference than 'Posh'.
While Darren Ferguson's (remember him!?) Peterborough have away games at both Walsall and Portsmouth to play, before they finish their pre-play off schedule with a home game against Burton Albion.
It's up for grabs now.
After they fhad ound their feet, Stanley impressed me overall tonight... they played some good football at times; and stormed into a two goal half time lead, against a Doncaster side who all but conceded the first half with a woeful lack of cohesion and penetration.
John Marquis got himself into good positions twice during Rovers lacklustre opening forty five minutes, but the less said about his final touch in front of Jonny Maxted's goal (both times), the better.
Billy Kee, Ben Richards-Everton and Jordan Clark, Jordan Clark all had chances for the visitors, before Sean McConville knocked in the opening goal in the seventeenth minute, from just behind the back stick, after Paul Smyth had delivered the ball across the face of Marko Marosi's goal, that Rovers didn't deal with.
Tommy Rowe went close to grabbing an equaliser for the hosts, but Maxted (a former Doncaster youth team player) might light work of gathering the shot safely.
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| 207 Accrington Stanley fans |
I'm not entirely sure if it is against the rules of association football for a match referee to drink eight cans of Red Stripe and have a go on a crack pipe before taking charge of a game, but I can't think of any logical explanation for some of Mr Stockbridge's more bizarre decisions and flamboyantly over the top gestures. He seemed to be blissfully oblivious to the error of his ways and appeared to be enjoying himself though... so each to his own, eh!?
Smyth helped himself to a goal just before the interval, cutting in from the right flank after collecting a long clearance from inside the visitors half before cutting inside, taking aim and beating Marosi with an exquisite dipping shot.
HT: Doncaster Rovers 0 v Accrington Stanley 2
As the teams left the pitch at half time, a number of the home supporters around us, let their 'disappointment' be known and vented their frustration at a number of their own players.
But Rovers upped the ante after the interval, though if truth be told, it would've been difficult to play any worse than they just had done during long spells of the first half.
Malik Wilks led the charge for 'Donny' after the restart, cutting in towards Maxted's goal, through the right channel, before flashing the ball past the left hand post on the half volley, with an otherwise unstoppable effort that had no back-lift at all.
But the hosts decent start to the second half, was almost undone, when Matty Blair was involved in a mix up with Marosi and headed against his own bar... Blair didn't half ride his luck during those crazy few moments of indecision.
Smyth went for goal again, but Paul Downing thwarted him with a timely interception.
Danny Andrew put a couple of decent crosses into the mix, but Accrington gave off the impression that they were happy to deal with that kind of stuff all night.
Wilks rolled the ball inside to Kieran Sadler, who spotted his chance to catch Maxted out with a crashing shot, that thumped against the visitors crossbar. Marquis had another half chance a few moments later... and though he did well to connect with the ball ob the turn, his shot hit a Stanley defender.
Moments later, Marosi was in action, collecting Smyth's angled shot from the left by the foot of the near post.
Sadlier combined with Ben Whiteman, which opened up a shooting opportunity, but Sadlier hooked his shot over the bar.
Danny Andrew took responsibility for free kick, out on the left, just a few yards inside the Accrington half, but while all the players from both teams justled for position in and around the goal area, the referee decided to walk out ten paces and spray a white line on the floor, even though there were no players within thirty or forty yards of Andrew at the time.
Andrew pulled a goal back for Rovers inside the final minute, when his free kick, whipped up off of Accrington's Seamus Conneely and changed it's trajectory over goalkeeper Jonny Maxted.
But Mr Stockbridge decided he was only adding two minutes stoppage time on, despite there having been three goals scored and numerous incidents of (understandable) time-wasting going on, which wasn't enough for Doncaster to salvage a point, even though Sadlier crashed the ball against the left hand upright with virtually the last kick off the game.
FT: Doncaster Rovers 1 v Accrington Stanley 2
Thanks for the invite into the press/media duties hub tonight... I've often wondered if I can go a whole three hours without gushing forth with my potty mouthed vocabulary.
Well now, I effing well know 😏
Now, let's get the non-league slot past the planning stage... and hit the funking airwaves running, ASAP!
