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A few stats - Donny Vs Barnsley
Games played 5
Goals scored - Donny - 16
Goals scored - Barnsley - 3
Doncaster average per-game - 3.2
Barnsley average per-game - 0.6
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The local derby saw new signing Pricey score both goals to give us a much needed 3 points.
Barnsley brought about 2000 fans although not a sell-out, and should have had a much higher team morale than us, but throughout the whole game, Rovers looked like they wanted the win more.
First Half
A few into the half and some good pacey football by the Rovers down the right resulted in Price putting over a great cross to McIndoe on the left but his volley was deflected for a corner. Moments later, a Barnsley attack ended with Richards putting a shot high over the bar. Then Blayney was called into action to get to a ball before Shuker following a good move down the Barnsley right. A couple of corners to the visitors came to nought before the Rovers worked another good move.
McIndoe swung a long ball from the left to Mulligan on the right. He slid the ball through for Price to run on to, work his way past a defender before shooting left footed straight at Colgan in the Barnsley goal after 24 minutes. Barnsley then won a corner but the Rovers gained two before Barnsley won another one. End to end stuff but the Rovers went on to the attack with a free kick on the right coming back out of Barnsley's defence to McIndoe, who fired just over the bar. However, a minute later, on 35 minutes, Horlock chipped into the middle of the Barnsley defence, Fortune-West headed across to PRICE on the right for him to bury a terrific header into the far corner of the goal and give the Rovers the lead. The Rovers now got on top and on the stroke of half time could have added to their score when a free kick on their right from Mulligan resulted in a game of pinball before the ball fell to Fortune-West's feet. His left foot shot from close range had Colgan going down to save. The break came with the Rovers holding their one goal advantage.
Second Half
Barnsley came out for the second half and set about restoring parity but the Rovers defence held firm and restricted them to a corner and a couple of efforts at goal that went out. With ten minutes gone the home team set up their first real attack and won a corner through McCormack's persistence. Wheater's header was deflected for another corner, which Burns put out for another corner to the Rovers. Continued pressure by the home team resulted in them adding to their score after 59 minutes. The ball came to Green in the centre of the pitch about 30 yards out. He slipped it out to the right where PRICE ran on to it and hit a low shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net.
Barnsley's attacks were isolated ones now as the Rovers dominated the game. Fortune-West put a header to a McIndoe cross wide and then lost a good chance when he dallied on the ball and eventually lost it. However, Colgan did well to catch an up-and-under from McDaid under his bar as Fortune-West also went for it. On 71 minutes, Colgan also made a good save from Fortune-West after a good build up by the home team.
A long ball from the Barnsley defence caught the Rovers with a lack of numbers at the back. Nardiello beat Blayney to the ball but could only toe it past the far post for a goal kick. The Rovers continued to have the best of the play as the match ran down to it's conclusion. The final whistle went with the Rovers taking a well-merited three points with a great win over their fiercest rivals.