Denaby Drop Home Point

Denaby 2 Doncaster Rovers Reserves 2

Denaby maintained their unbeaten record by drawing with Doncaster Reserves at Tickhill Square on Saturday, but they should have won.

Doncaster were, for the most part, too erratic to be constructed, and during the second half only clever work by the backs prevented Denaby scoring. Doncaster took advantage of opportunities during the first uneventful 10 minutes of the game, and it was not until the Denaby goal had had a lucky escape that fortunes changed.

A melee followed a freekick, but as the ball was about to roll over the Denaby goalline Leeke punted it away. During the rest of the off the Doncaster forwards rarely saw the ball. Their goal had some miraculous escapes, but the Denaby forwards never lost our, and during one fierce attack Guest slipped across a centre for Barks to score. Several times the ball hit the bar with Wharton hopelessly beaten.

Doncaster’s equaliser was a remarkable goal, scored before the back that time to recover. From a siege on the Doncaster goal Dodd broke away and while the other players were still in Doncaster’s goal he beat Picken with a splendid shot. It was a brilliant effort

there was no further scoring this off, but with five minutes of the resumption Doncaster went ahead from a penalty. Picken managed to parry Dodd’s shot but let it slip over the line. Five minutes later Blackburn equalised with a fine shot from well out.

The latter phases of this half brought some splendid tussles in the Doncaster goal. Dodd and Dutton put in some splendid work, but the halves would have helped considerably had they paid more attention to Denaby’s inside forwards. But it was Fleetwood and Berks were very quickly with Blackburn, and, backed by consistently good work by their halves, proved a constant source of trouble. The Doncaster halves rarely came into the picture, and as a result the forward line was disjointed. Centres found the forwards unplaced and their work was never impressive.

Doncaster were lucky to escape with a point and have their backs to thank for. Denaby prove good opportunists and were unlucky to miss the points.