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Archived News from October 2003

REPORT FROM SPORT FIRST
19th October 2003 19:19


Stags run ragged by Doncaster
By Adrian Bicknell

thanks to Carole for the transcription

DONCASTER ROVERS came out on top in a shoot-out between two of the Divisions top scoring teams.

It stretched their unbeaten run to six matches and took their tally to 18 goals in the last five league games.

Mansfield battled all the way and might have had more goals themselves in the closing stages as Rovers refused to put up the shutters and continued to attack. Rovers boss Dave Penney said “We still wanted to continue attacking at 100 miles per hour after going 3-1 up, and maybe that's something we need to look at.

“We did score again but so did they, and they might have had one or two more as we left gaps at the back.”

Rovers eventually gained the initiative following a scrappy start. Teenage striker Chris Brown had a header saved in the 14th minute and Gregg Blundell missed a good chance when he lobbed wide of the mark with visiting keeper Kevin Pilkington stranded.

But it was the Stags who snatched the lead against the run of play after 21 minutes. Lee Williamson latched onto a poor clearance and threaded a curling pass to Liam Lawrence who cut into the box from the right to slot home.

Francis Tierney had a shot cleared off the line as the home side hit back. Doncaster's persistence was rewarded when Blundell levelled the scores with a neat finish in the 38th minute after Michael McIndoe had set up the chance.

Tierney and McIndoe then combined to carve out the opening for Paul Green to fire home from close range.

McIndoe made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after David Artell (correction: Day - Martin)had been penalised for handball before Brown added a fourth.

Mansfield pulled one back through Wayne Corden. Boss Keith Curle said he did not intend “to talk about football out of respect after learning of a bereavement involving the club when I came off the pitch.”

 

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