Doncaster Rovers 4-2 Pilgrims
Nationwide Conference
With defenders Lee Howarth and Richard Lucas both missing due to suspension and new midfield signing Simon Rusk available for selection, a few changes were possible. Andy Lodge got the No. 3 shirt and Rusk came straight into starting line-up. Without two of their key defenders, Boston's defensive weaknesses were soon exposed. After five minutes of play, when a Boston attack broke down, Doncaster's Tristram WHITMAN beat the offside trap to race through the middle and put Rovers in front. Boston came close to equalising on twenty minutes when Ken Charlery headed a Mick Nuttell cross over the bar. Ten minutes later Simon Weatherstone also saw a header go close, this time the cross being supplied by Jamie Cook. The equaliser did finally come when at the second attempt, Simon WEATHERSTONE fired home in a goalmouth scramble following a corner. Doncaster's Andy Watson was stretchered off following a collision with Paul Bastock on the edge of the area. Then just before half time, Jim Dick was injured following a similar collision and left the field for treatment.
He failed to return after the break, being replaced by Paul Raynor. Doncaster were soon back in front, when just three minutes into the second half Mark ATKINS slotted home when the Boston defence failed to clear a corner. Five minutes later it was all square again when Ken CHARLERY scored from the spot after Mick Nuttell had been pushed to the ground by Barry Miller. Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, it erupted in controversy when one minute from full time, the referee, after consultation with his assistant, over-ruled his initial decision and awarded Doncaster a penalty for a handball. Jamie PATERSON stepped up and hit an unstoppable kick into the bottom left hand corner. As Boston threw everyone forward in an attempt to come back for the third time, they were hit on the break, and PATERSON clinched the win with a well hit shot that Bastock could only deflect onto the inside of the post before it went in.
United team: 1. Bastock, 2. Clifford, 3. Lodge, 4. R Weatherstone (Hoyle 77), 5. Gowshall, 6. Dick (Raynor 46), 7. Rusk, 8. Charlery, 9. Nuttell (Fewings 86), 10. S Weatherstone, 11. Cook, Subs not used: Diaf, Conroy.