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Folk there don't seem to have the same chips on shoulders as some others (is it really in Yorkshire?) and throughout all my visits, football or just beering (is that a word? It is now), I've never encountered any issues. My first trip to their new (ish) ground, too, and perhaps the best way to describe it is the Proact plus corners. Or, alternatively, 'come and have a look at what you could've had, Millers'. Yeah, unlike their overpriced and overrated 'Tardis in reverse' (© JD51) you can actually breath on the Keepmoat concourse when there're more than a few hundred down there, whilst the seating incline is comfortably below vertical.
Downside is it's way out the way, though, so add a taxi fare onto the match-day expenses.
Anyway, credit to Dickov for doing his homework. Rovers started with an intensity that stopped us playing then exploited our defensive shortcomings. Humphries at LB was a 'double whammy'; he was done for pace going backwards and couldn't offer the overlap going forward. Meanwhile both their first and third goals saw Donny players have two bites of the cherry, so to speak, in front of goal. Poor defending, simple as that. Worse still we offered little at the other end, going too long, too often, and being outmuscled by an outfit handed all the licence they needed by an obvious 'homer'. But 'y'know what? This is a 'new' Town. For years and years going two down would've probably meant the towel being thrown, however there's a tangible spirit amongst the side these days that's increasingly reflected amongst it's followers. I kinda knew we'd get one back, even after early season talisman Sam Morsy joined our worryingly lengthy injury list, and if/when we did would have a real go.
Step forward Sam Clucas to do exactly that, capitalising on an off-post shot by the impressive Johnson.
Problem was our not so little neighbours started the second half as they'd done the first, imposing themselves and pressing us back. After their third Cook had no option but to change things, replacing the struggling Humphries and anonymous Boco with Gnanduillet and O'Shea. Suddenly we were watching a different game, the former dominating with his presence and the latter bamboozling a now panicking home defence. The big Ivorian appeared to've scored, forcing in at the back stick, yet the same inept lino who'd handed Rovers a corner when two and a half thousand Spireites had seen the ball clearly come off one of their's decided otherwise. Man-of-the-moment Doyle did make it two shortly afterwards, his sheer determination driving home a bobbling effort when he looked second favourite. Town were magnificent, flowing forward in the manner we've come to know and love and dominating an expensively assembled side who were playing Championship football only months ago. Chance after chance went begging, tantalising crosses that needed only the slightest nudge goalwards or wayward attempts when the hard work seemed to've been done. But unfortunately we just couldn't convert, infact the late stages saw Donny re-assert themselves if only to kill time.
Maybe climbing the same mountain twice in as many games was too much to expect.
Thoughts? Well no one likes losing, yet if your gonna lose this is the way to do it. A Town side shorn of it's better players deserved at least a point. Everyone associated with Chesterfield FC left Doncaster with their heads held high, yesterday. Contrast that with the sight of young ball boys clearly dawdling - or not even fetching the ball at all - because their team were in front. That has to come from someone at DRFC. John Ryan has done a great deal to establish a good name for his club, yet such cynical and pathetic behaviour embarrassed it.
This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 21 September 2014 - 09:21 AM
