We started the second half reasonably brightly and Best fired an effort over the bar. This was only a brief showing and Doncaster soon got on top but hardly in a threatening way. When they scored on the hour it was due to a defensive lapse (yet another one). A corner was not properly cleared and the ball was played through to an unmarked Doncaster player on the right of our box and from ten yards out he was able to cross past a helpless Stewart to two unmarked players running in onto the six yard line. The first missed it but the second, Guy, didn't and stubbed it into an open net. He then proceeded to celebrate as if he had scored the goal of the century.....what does he do when he scores a screamer....suggestions on a postcard please.
Doncaster now had a spell of superiority but were not good enough to make anything of it. Broadhurst did have to make a superb last ditch tackle when a second goal seemed certain but that was it. Even a number of substitutions (too later as usual) Hollands for Hart, Gowling for Howe and Browning for Fletcher and a change of formation from 4 1 2 1 2 to 3 5 2 did not make much difference despite our efforts to get the equaliser. Just as the match was in stoppage time and drifting to a rather tame 1 0 defeat a Foley freekick was handled by a defender who jumped with his hands above his head. Mr Thorpe hesitated before giving the penalty as if taken aback that the culprit could be so stupd. Hayter slotted the penalty in off the left hand post. Overall we deserved a draw as the sides were as poor as each other.
When walking back to the station soon after this it was easy to overhear the Doncaster fans discussing the incident. They had no qualms that it was a penalty and had very specific things that they thought should happen to the defender. The manager giving him a good talking to was the only printable one.
Our problem at the moment is that we do not seem to know our best team let alone our best formation. A central midfield of Foley and Cooke with Cooper sitting in front of the back four surely cannot be a longterm plan. With Browning out Hollands must have been a better option. I would also prefer to see Purches play in the holding role (he no longer has the acceleration to be a full back) and Cooper play at right back. The midfield is the big problem as it is not creating enough for the strikers (Fletch included) and is not providing any defensive cover for the back four who are, therefore, overstretched. Browning will only be a short term solution when fully fit as his 'legs' have been going for the past two seasons. We will only start to win matches consitantly once a strong settled midfield is in place. Also many of the players do not seem fit enough as they collapse after each match......just what is the fitness coach doing?!
The only real contribution of our 'old boy' James O'Connor was to be the only booking of the match. In my view he was unfortunate in that it was an honest attempt to get the ball but he was beaten to it by Callum Hart (mind you this is hardly something that you would want on your CV!). Apart from this Mr Thorpe had a good match although there was hardly anything for him to do.
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AFCB: Stewart, Purches, Hart, Broadhurst, Howe, Cooke, Cooper, Foley, Hayter, Best, Fletcher
Subs: Moss, Maher, Hollands (for Hart, 76), Gowling (for Howe, 76), Browning (for Fletcher, 76)