2001-02 Season
2001-02 Season Match Reports
20 January: Donny R'sonists 0-4 Real Maroon (Hearts) - IFA Cup
Match report written by Glen Wilson for Popular Stand fanzine;
A rare luxury for the R’sonists as we had fifteen players for this one and the task of picking from them fell to John Coyle who was back in charge (ending rumours that he had been released for cost-cutting measures). Hearts came down from Scotland (appropriate enough, what with them being Scottish) with a large contingent and the game looked like it could be a real close
one.
Indeed it could have been in the first half, with the R’sonists going down the hill only the excellence of the Hearts keeper prevented goals for Paul Nelson and James Batchelor. At the other end the Hearts forwards were causing problems for the R’sonists back line and it wasn’t long before they
took the lead. One of the Hearts forwards beating the offside trap to round Nath to slot the ball into the net.
I’m about to talk about Hearts’ second goal so Nath look away now (which is funnily enough what he did at the time). After the ball came out to the right wing the Hearts winger whacked a hopeful cross high in the air. The combination of wind and blinding sunlight caused Nath to lose sight of it (come on we’ve all been confused by the wonders of the natural world at some point haven’t we?) and drop the ball at the feet of the Hearts striker who tucked it into the net for 2-0. Before half time it was 3-0 as a cross from the left was directed past Nath by a fine header from one of the Hearts midfielders. Nath blamed his defence, the defence blamed the midfield, the midfield blamed each other and up front James blamed his brother Nath. The R’sonists have put this goal down to a blame issue.
In the second half Nath atoned for his first half blunder by keeping out almost all the Hearts lads could throw at him. Some would call it shot-stopping or positioning I prefer to think of it as getting in the way, albeit some of the finest getting in the way I’ve seen this season. However there was little he could do about Hearts fourth goal which flew in off the post from all of twenty-five yards.
R’sonists can take heart from a battling performance in which Matt Smith for once didn’t suffer a single injury. All in all though the pitch was more suited to the Hearts lads than the R’sonists… it was a football pitch.
Donny R’sonists; (4-4-2) Nathan Batchelor; Adam Bond, Glen Wilson, Paul Nelson, Alan Brown; Rob White, Darren Blake, Paul Exton, Greg Sill; Matt Smith, James Batchelor.
subs: Gary Robson, Dave Millington, Neil Tissington, Tom Smith
Real Maroon; (4-4-2) Ross; Angus, Jock, Big Yin, Robert; Dougall, Davie, Wee man, Cameron; Hamish, Alistair
subs: Willie, Scotty, Sean Connery, A Haggis, other Scottish Stereotypes
R’sonists Star Performer: Alan Brown, a fine example from the captain.
A rare luxury for the R’sonists as we had fifteen players for this one and the task of picking from them fell to John Coyle who was back in charge (ending rumours that he had been released for cost-cutting measures). Hearts came down from Scotland (appropriate enough, what with them being Scottish) with a large contingent and the game looked like it could be a real close
one.
Indeed it could have been in the first half, with the R’sonists going down the hill only the excellence of the Hearts keeper prevented goals for Paul Nelson and James Batchelor. At the other end the Hearts forwards were causing problems for the R’sonists back line and it wasn’t long before they
took the lead. One of the Hearts forwards beating the offside trap to round Nath to slot the ball into the net.
I’m about to talk about Hearts’ second goal so Nath look away now (which is funnily enough what he did at the time). After the ball came out to the right wing the Hearts winger whacked a hopeful cross high in the air. The combination of wind and blinding sunlight caused Nath to lose sight of it (come on we’ve all been confused by the wonders of the natural world at some point haven’t we?) and drop the ball at the feet of the Hearts striker who tucked it into the net for 2-0. Before half time it was 3-0 as a cross from the left was directed past Nath by a fine header from one of the Hearts midfielders. Nath blamed his defence, the defence blamed the midfield, the midfield blamed each other and up front James blamed his brother Nath. The R’sonists have put this goal down to a blame issue.
In the second half Nath atoned for his first half blunder by keeping out almost all the Hearts lads could throw at him. Some would call it shot-stopping or positioning I prefer to think of it as getting in the way, albeit some of the finest getting in the way I’ve seen this season. However there was little he could do about Hearts fourth goal which flew in off the post from all of twenty-five yards.
R’sonists can take heart from a battling performance in which Matt Smith for once didn’t suffer a single injury. All in all though the pitch was more suited to the Hearts lads than the R’sonists… it was a football pitch.
Donny R’sonists; (4-4-2) Nathan Batchelor; Adam Bond, Glen Wilson, Paul Nelson, Alan Brown; Rob White, Darren Blake, Paul Exton, Greg Sill; Matt Smith, James Batchelor.
subs: Gary Robson, Dave Millington, Neil Tissington, Tom Smith
Real Maroon; (4-4-2) Ross; Angus, Jock, Big Yin, Robert; Dougall, Davie, Wee man, Cameron; Hamish, Alistair
subs: Willie, Scotty, Sean Connery, A Haggis, other Scottish Stereotypes
R’sonists Star Performer: Alan Brown, a fine example from the captain.
13 May: R'sonists Reach Final of Nottingham Tournament
News update featured on www.doncasterrovers.co.uk;
The Doncaster R'Sonists - a team made up of Rovers fans - were competing in a tournament at Nottingham this weekend. They won their group, beating Nottingham Forest B and Coventry, and drawing with Derby, and then defeated Forest "A" 1-0 in the semi-finals. They met Derby in the final, and went down 1-0. Congratulations to all the players in reaching the first final of a tournament they have entered - maybe next time lads!
R'sonists Squad: Nathan Batchelor, Alan Brown, Neil Johnson, Ross Dougall, Gary Robson, Alex Dougall, Simon Blake, Rob White, Matt Smith, Joe Stevens, David Plant, Matt Dougall. Manager: John Coyle.
The Doncaster R'Sonists - a team made up of Rovers fans - were competing in a tournament at Nottingham this weekend. They won their group, beating Nottingham Forest B and Coventry, and drawing with Derby, and then defeated Forest "A" 1-0 in the semi-finals. They met Derby in the final, and went down 1-0. Congratulations to all the players in reaching the first final of a tournament they have entered - maybe next time lads!
R'sonists Squad: Nathan Batchelor, Alan Brown, Neil Johnson, Ross Dougall, Gary Robson, Alex Dougall, Simon Blake, Rob White, Matt Smith, Joe Stevens, David Plant, Matt Dougall. Manager: John Coyle.
June: Donny R'sonists Facts and Figures To Date
Salvaged from the old R'sonists Mailing List, club facts and stats up to June 2002;
Since 1998 we have had 55 players play for the R'sonists, and our record is as follows;
Played: 70 Won: 32 Drawn: 12 Lost: 26 Scored: 173 Conceded: 126
Most Appearances:
1. Alan Brown 68
2. Nathan Batchelor 66
3. Neil Tissingon 54
4. Greg Sill 45
5. Matt 'Shuttleworth' Smith 41
Top Goalscoreres:
1. James Batchelor 50 goals (from 40 matches)
2. Matt 'Shuttleworth' Smith 25 (from 41 matches)
3. Greg Sill 13 (from 45 matches)
4. Rob White 12 (from 31 matches)
5. Alex Dougall 8 (from 22 matches)
We have had 2 Matt Smiths play for us.
7 Smiths only 2 of them are related!
7 "one-match wonders"
Since 1998 we have had 55 players play for the R'sonists, and our record is as follows;
Played: 70 Won: 32 Drawn: 12 Lost: 26 Scored: 173 Conceded: 126
Most Appearances:
1. Alan Brown 68
2. Nathan Batchelor 66
3. Neil Tissingon 54
4. Greg Sill 45
5. Matt 'Shuttleworth' Smith 41
Top Goalscoreres:
1. James Batchelor 50 goals (from 40 matches)
2. Matt 'Shuttleworth' Smith 25 (from 41 matches)
3. Greg Sill 13 (from 45 matches)
4. Rob White 12 (from 31 matches)
5. Alex Dougall 8 (from 22 matches)
We have had 2 Matt Smiths play for us.
7 Smiths only 2 of them are related!
7 "one-match wonders"