2003-04 Season
2003-04 Season Match Reports
7 February: Scunthorpe Iron Filings 1-2 Donny R'sonists
by Alan Brown, report back to the R'sonists mailing list;
1st Goal: Exton. Free kick with hell of an assist by the keeper.
2nd Goal: Dougal R. As Ross fell on his arse in the 6 yard box his foot caught the ball and in it went.
A keenly contested game played in a great sporting spirit from which Scunny can feel aggrieved not to have got something out of it. Scunny took the initiative to the R’sonists in the first half and had the better of most of it, with much good build up play outside the box giving our defence and midfield the run around at times.
However, a mix of luck and good defensive blocking limited their scoring chances, and from the R’sonists point of view their goal came as a result of possibly the only time we didn't really clear our lines. We did have our chances, but couldn't seem to penetrate the Scunny back line. In the second half we came much more into the game, and started to look more dangerous. Our first goal was a low free kick that embarrassed not only the Scunny keeper it went through but also Mr Exton who had tapped it to him.
That was the spur we needed and from that point we made much more of a even game of it - could have gone either way. However, as a result of one of Glen Wilson's torpedo throw-ins, Alex Dougal flicked on at the near post for his brother Ross to nick it in as he fell on his arse in the 6 yd box. We then managed to again ride our luck combined with some excellent last ditch tackles (Exton, Alex Dougall) relieved by great work by Keith in driving our attacks and keeping the Scunny backline under serious pressure as well.
Pleased to have won the game to end our poor run of late and pleased to have won it with a good team spirit and approach that managed to hold a strong Scunny attack for much of the game. Also pleased to have given the Scunny lads a decent game for a change. Many thanks to the Scunny lads and the ref for a well-contested game in a friendly and fair spirit, and thanks for the after-game hospitality - much appreciated.
Man of the Match 1: Paul Exton - great defensive midfield performance - covered hell of a lot of ground and got in telling tackles to kill Scunny attacks.
Man of the Match 2: Keith Sanders - also covered most of the pitch in being behind most of our attacking play and giving the Scunny back line a hard time. Also well done to Alex, and to Nick and Gavin for what they did too.
NB Tisso lasted 11 minutes at the Rovers game before being thrown out. If you won the sweepstake on this, then please contact: Lincolnshire Constabulary, Scunthorpe Police Station, Scunthorpe, where Mr Tissington is being detained until he removes his beercoat - which, being a very long trenchcoat version, may be some time......
1st Goal: Exton. Free kick with hell of an assist by the keeper.
2nd Goal: Dougal R. As Ross fell on his arse in the 6 yard box his foot caught the ball and in it went.
A keenly contested game played in a great sporting spirit from which Scunny can feel aggrieved not to have got something out of it. Scunny took the initiative to the R’sonists in the first half and had the better of most of it, with much good build up play outside the box giving our defence and midfield the run around at times.
However, a mix of luck and good defensive blocking limited their scoring chances, and from the R’sonists point of view their goal came as a result of possibly the only time we didn't really clear our lines. We did have our chances, but couldn't seem to penetrate the Scunny back line. In the second half we came much more into the game, and started to look more dangerous. Our first goal was a low free kick that embarrassed not only the Scunny keeper it went through but also Mr Exton who had tapped it to him.
That was the spur we needed and from that point we made much more of a even game of it - could have gone either way. However, as a result of one of Glen Wilson's torpedo throw-ins, Alex Dougal flicked on at the near post for his brother Ross to nick it in as he fell on his arse in the 6 yd box. We then managed to again ride our luck combined with some excellent last ditch tackles (Exton, Alex Dougall) relieved by great work by Keith in driving our attacks and keeping the Scunny backline under serious pressure as well.
Pleased to have won the game to end our poor run of late and pleased to have won it with a good team spirit and approach that managed to hold a strong Scunny attack for much of the game. Also pleased to have given the Scunny lads a decent game for a change. Many thanks to the Scunny lads and the ref for a well-contested game in a friendly and fair spirit, and thanks for the after-game hospitality - much appreciated.
Man of the Match 1: Paul Exton - great defensive midfield performance - covered hell of a lot of ground and got in telling tackles to kill Scunny attacks.
Man of the Match 2: Keith Sanders - also covered most of the pitch in being behind most of our attacking play and giving the Scunny back line a hard time. Also well done to Alex, and to Nick and Gavin for what they did too.
NB Tisso lasted 11 minutes at the Rovers game before being thrown out. If you won the sweepstake on this, then please contact: Lincolnshire Constabulary, Scunthorpe Police Station, Scunthorpe, where Mr Tissington is being detained until he removes his beercoat - which, being a very long trenchcoat version, may be some time......
14 February: Donny R'sonists 0-3 Macclesfield
by Alan Brown, report back to the R'sonists Mailing List
Damn! Well played lads - especially in the second half - some of the best footballing we've seen for some time - great movement and passing that deserved much more than the gifts that we presented to the Macc lads. Unfortunately some quality comedy defending did for us, and without that I think that the game would have been a lot closer than it was.
I will take full responsibility for the first goal in the following areas:
1. In thinking that Tisso had actually taken the throw-in, rather than not being able to control the collection of the ball in order to take the throw-in, and so gave a foul throw against Tisso (it's just not been his week).
2. In getting Tisso to square the loose ball to me on the six yard line.
3. In being so gobsmacked at receiving a "man on" call that I totally forgot I was actually playing footy and attempted a Chris Beech leg-golf-air swing that left their young lad up front all the time in the world to tap the ball into the open net.
1-0 to the Macc lads at half-time, but on balance of play they deserved it, as their midfield was creating more chances, and we weren't taking advantage of ours despite a fair bit of possession. Second half was a lot different - we got our act together and made much more of a game of it, with attacking midfield dominant and putting some really good moves together. Still couldn't get many attempts on goal though, with Ross Dougall struggling with an early injury and only having 11 men.
Tisso's week got worse with the second goal - swopping the keeper's shirt with Ben. Alex Dougall took the edge off a long ball with a deft back header to Tisso in nets, but with other things on his mind, Tisso thought he was taking throw-ins again and spilled the ball to their forward who -like the first goal - just had to tap it into the empty net.
We moved into a sort of 2.5 - 3 - 1.5 - 2.5 - 0.5 formation to try and get back into the game, and played some of our best footy going forward at this point. Unfortunately and predictably the backline came under increasing pressure, and following a good cross from their right, Nigel connected with the cross to score the best goal of his career with a scorching shot that bust the back of.....our net. As Dave Penney would say: "to be fair to Nige he was running back and the ball was only gonna go in one direction". I say that if you're going to score an own goal then make sure it's a good one - and that certainly was.3-0 to the Macc Lads and the game was over.
Well done to the Macc Lads for a competitive game played in a great spirit - it was a pleasure to play in. The Macc Lads too played some great attacking footy and will consider themselves unlucky not to have scored some less easy goals. All I want to know is: did I do better than the ref at Belle Vue? Answers on a rather large piece of paper to...
Man of the Match: Alex Dougall - consistency despite our backline being on his side.
Damn! Well played lads - especially in the second half - some of the best footballing we've seen for some time - great movement and passing that deserved much more than the gifts that we presented to the Macc lads. Unfortunately some quality comedy defending did for us, and without that I think that the game would have been a lot closer than it was.
I will take full responsibility for the first goal in the following areas:
1. In thinking that Tisso had actually taken the throw-in, rather than not being able to control the collection of the ball in order to take the throw-in, and so gave a foul throw against Tisso (it's just not been his week).
2. In getting Tisso to square the loose ball to me on the six yard line.
3. In being so gobsmacked at receiving a "man on" call that I totally forgot I was actually playing footy and attempted a Chris Beech leg-golf-air swing that left their young lad up front all the time in the world to tap the ball into the open net.
1-0 to the Macc lads at half-time, but on balance of play they deserved it, as their midfield was creating more chances, and we weren't taking advantage of ours despite a fair bit of possession. Second half was a lot different - we got our act together and made much more of a game of it, with attacking midfield dominant and putting some really good moves together. Still couldn't get many attempts on goal though, with Ross Dougall struggling with an early injury and only having 11 men.
Tisso's week got worse with the second goal - swopping the keeper's shirt with Ben. Alex Dougall took the edge off a long ball with a deft back header to Tisso in nets, but with other things on his mind, Tisso thought he was taking throw-ins again and spilled the ball to their forward who -like the first goal - just had to tap it into the empty net.
We moved into a sort of 2.5 - 3 - 1.5 - 2.5 - 0.5 formation to try and get back into the game, and played some of our best footy going forward at this point. Unfortunately and predictably the backline came under increasing pressure, and following a good cross from their right, Nigel connected with the cross to score the best goal of his career with a scorching shot that bust the back of.....our net. As Dave Penney would say: "to be fair to Nige he was running back and the ball was only gonna go in one direction". I say that if you're going to score an own goal then make sure it's a good one - and that certainly was.3-0 to the Macc Lads and the game was over.
Well done to the Macc Lads for a competitive game played in a great spirit - it was a pleasure to play in. The Macc Lads too played some great attacking footy and will consider themselves unlucky not to have scored some less easy goals. All I want to know is: did I do better than the ref at Belle Vue? Answers on a rather large piece of paper to...
Man of the Match: Alex Dougall - consistency despite our backline being on his side.
July: WorldNET 2004 Report
by John Coyle for the Doncaster Rovers matchday programme;
The Donny R'sonists took part in their seventh Worldnet last weekend. The annual tournament, which took place at Bodington Hall, Leeds, featured over 60 teams representing Internet Football Mailing Lists.
Having reached the semi-final of the main Cup competition last year, the R'sonists were fancied to do well, but with a small squad (only 15 players including two with knee injuries) they faced a difficult challenge. On Saturday they played in Group 6 and results were as follows:
R'sonists 1 (Paul Exton) Darlington 1
R'sonists 1 (James Batchelor) Sports Interactive 0
R'sonists 2 (Greg Sill, James Batchelor) Dunfermline 3
An excellent win over the sponsor's representatives (and eventual Group winners) was offset by twice failing to hold onto an interval lead. Despite that, the R'sonists expected to progress to the Cup competition with a superior goal difference to Dunfermline. Unfortunately we learned that the rules had been changed and results between the teams, not goal difference, was the tie-breaker. So the R'sonists were in the Plate competition.
Sunday started well with a 3-1 win over Watford B (Alan Brown (pen), James Batchelor & Matt Smith the scorers) but that brought the R'sonists up against their conquerors of last year, Inter Milan, who had shocked many people by failing to qualify for the Cup competition. A rather tired R'sonists side went down 4-0 to the skilful Italians. One day we will get our revenge!
So a somewhat disappointing weekend on the playing front, but not so on the social side, which was greatly enjoyed by all members of the squad. There was also the chance to catch up with old friends. We're already looking forward to Worldnet 2005, which is likely to be on Merseyside. The Cup competition was won by Dumbarton, who beat Stockport County 2-1 in the final, while Scunthorpe United won the Plate, beating our conquerors, Inter Milan, also by 2-1 in their final.
R'sonists squad: Alan Brown, Darren Blake, James Batchelor, Matt Smith, Greg Sill, Paul Nelson, Rob White, Neil Tissington, Nigel Johnson, Glen Wilson, Graham Moss, Paul Exton, Ledley Wilson, Matt Harriman, John Coyle.
The Donny R'sonists took part in their seventh Worldnet last weekend. The annual tournament, which took place at Bodington Hall, Leeds, featured over 60 teams representing Internet Football Mailing Lists.
Having reached the semi-final of the main Cup competition last year, the R'sonists were fancied to do well, but with a small squad (only 15 players including two with knee injuries) they faced a difficult challenge. On Saturday they played in Group 6 and results were as follows:
R'sonists 1 (Paul Exton) Darlington 1
R'sonists 1 (James Batchelor) Sports Interactive 0
R'sonists 2 (Greg Sill, James Batchelor) Dunfermline 3
An excellent win over the sponsor's representatives (and eventual Group winners) was offset by twice failing to hold onto an interval lead. Despite that, the R'sonists expected to progress to the Cup competition with a superior goal difference to Dunfermline. Unfortunately we learned that the rules had been changed and results between the teams, not goal difference, was the tie-breaker. So the R'sonists were in the Plate competition.
Sunday started well with a 3-1 win over Watford B (Alan Brown (pen), James Batchelor & Matt Smith the scorers) but that brought the R'sonists up against their conquerors of last year, Inter Milan, who had shocked many people by failing to qualify for the Cup competition. A rather tired R'sonists side went down 4-0 to the skilful Italians. One day we will get our revenge!
So a somewhat disappointing weekend on the playing front, but not so on the social side, which was greatly enjoyed by all members of the squad. There was also the chance to catch up with old friends. We're already looking forward to Worldnet 2005, which is likely to be on Merseyside. The Cup competition was won by Dumbarton, who beat Stockport County 2-1 in the final, while Scunthorpe United won the Plate, beating our conquerors, Inter Milan, also by 2-1 in their final.
R'sonists squad: Alan Brown, Darren Blake, James Batchelor, Matt Smith, Greg Sill, Paul Nelson, Rob White, Neil Tissington, Nigel Johnson, Glen Wilson, Graham Moss, Paul Exton, Ledley Wilson, Matt Harriman, John Coyle.