City easily beat Doncaster in the rain

By Nathan Jackson
January 24 2004

City beat Doncaster Rovers on a very wet Friday night thanks to an own goal and an overhead kick from Gary Fletcher. The defence finally seems to be getting it's act together after a 3rd clean sheet in 4. It was suprisingly easy for City as Doncaster never seemed to pose a major threat.

The Imps starting the game kicking towards the Rossington end that held City fans. The first real chance of the game came when the impressive Francis Green ran down the right and cross it in but Richardson just missed the chance to head the ball goalwards.

Mayo was then lucky to stay on the pitch after pulling a very late challenge on JJ Melligan. He escaped with a yellow card but that seemed to spur the Imps on even more.

Green picked up the ball in the Doncaster half and ran down the wings, after a 1-2 with Richard Butcher, Green send the ball along the floor of the box where it was strangely whalloped by Tim Ryan past Warrington and into the goal to send the Imps into an early lead.

City could have quickly doubled the lead but Warrington got his fingertips to Francis Green's cross which was about to be headed in by either Futcher or Fletcher.

Doncaster quickly gained corner after corner but each was wasted and Doncaster didn't look like scoring a single shot.

Late in the first half, Ryan Green ran down the wing and his superb shot was met with an even more superb tip over from Marriott.

Just before half time, City gained a free kick but after a long build up, Mark Bailey blazed the ball MILES over.

Early in the 2nd half, Richardson was 1-1 with the keeper but Mark Albriton pulled off an excellent last minute tackle before Richardson could shoot.

Marriott then was very lucky as he claimed a ball right on the edge of the area but spilled the ball in the slippery surroundings, Marriott then claimed the ball again but Donny's fans were adament that he'd handled outside the area but the ref just dimissed these claims.

City quickly increased their lead. Mayo's high corner was headed towards goal by Futcher and Fletcher seemed to be obstructing Warrington before bicycle kicking the ball right on the right and into the goal for 2-0.

Ricky Ravenhill was then very lucky to stay on the pitch after an outrageous 2 footed tackle on Fletcher that was extremely late but the ref mysteriously claimed it was only a yellow card offence.

Fortune West broke City's offside trap and ran 1-1 with Marriott but his shot from 6 yards was straight as Marriott and was cleared out by Butcher but almost immediatly, it was reutnred back in and an almighty goalmouth scramble somehow got to Mayo who cleared the ball.

Fletcher then sent a cross in but Warrington easily claimed for what turned out to be the last major incident of the game.