Venue: Belle Vue
Saturday 12th April 2003, 5.35pm kick-off.
Conditions:
Ground:
Nationwide Conference :
Doncaster Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 4
Attendance: 5,344 (approx 1,000 Glovers)
Referee: Mr R Pollock
Bookings:
Yeovil: Pluck (87, foul)
Doncaster: Barnes (63, foul), Foster (75, foul), Ryan (90, foul)
Line up : (3-4-1-2)
 1. Chris Weale |
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14. Roy O’Brien |
4. Terry Skiverton |
5. Colin Pluck |
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16. Andy Lindegaard |
6. Darren Way |
8. Lee Johnson |
11. Michael McIndoe |
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20. Gavin Williams |
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25. Kirk Jackson |
9. Kevin Gall |
Substitutes: 2. Adam Lockwood (60, for O’Brien), 10. Nick Crittenden (74, for Gall), 12. Chris Giles, 22. Steven Collis, 24. Abdelhalim El Kholti (65, for Lindegaard)
Doncaster: 1. Andy Warrington 2. Simon Marples 3. Tim Ryan 23. Stephen Foster 4. David Morley 24. Don Goodman 5. John Doolan 19. Ricky Ravenhill 30. Jason Blunt 20. Paul Green 9. Paul Barnes
Subs : 16. Tristram Whitman (66, for Doolan) 7. Francis Tierney (80, for Blunt) 13. Stuart Nelson 15. Robert Gill (29, for Goodman) 17. Chris Beech
Scorers: Darren WAY (23 mins, 1-0), Michael McINDOE pen (35, 2-0), Lee JOHNSON (41, 3-0), Kevin GALL (49, 4-0)
This report courtesy of Jeremy Gear:
Darren paves the Way to Title Glory
We have waited so long for this moment, all season it’s been so close, but yesterday it eventually happened, Darren Way scored his long awaited first goal of the season….oh, and by the way, with it Yeovil Town were crowned CHAMPIONS!
Even before a ball was kicked news from the Deva ran around Belle Vue that Chester, the only challengers, mathematically speaking were losing at home to Woking, any tension that was left diminished as the Yeovil fans queuing patiently at the turnstiles broke into song, encouraged by the drummer boy, and then at 4.55 pm precisely, a simultaneous and collective cheer from the travelling contingent signalled all around that at last, Yeovil Town could be crowned conference champions for the very first time in their long and distinguished history. With that, the players, track suited, and on the routine inspection of the pitch, cup final like, cottoned on instantly and huddled and grouped and enjoyed the moment with the fans, it was a real case of achieving by unity!
Lee Johnson was the first to come out onto the pitch in his battle gear for the warm up, by that time the long awaited fat lady was well into her chorus, what took her so long! The opening game of the season against Gravesend and Northfleet at Dorchester’s ground seemed an age ago.
And so to the game itself, the starting line up was the same as the one that began against Telford last week, and as early as the 4th minute, Yeovil forced a couple of corners as if to signal their intentions. An offside flag snuffed out a threatening Rovers attack. Not long after Colin Pluck tangled menacingly in the centre of the pitch after a rash challenge. To his credit, the big Yeovil defender coolly walked away when on other occasions he would have got “involved”. Lets hope next season he takes a leaf out of Michael Mcindoes “how to channel aggression” book, as that has been his only flaw, in an otherwise superb season.
Yeovil were by now taking the game to Doncaster, Terry Skiverton and Pluck’s distribution from the back was pinpoint, Roy O’Brien defended with assurance. One long-range ball from Pluck was reminiscent of Darren Ways cross field ball last week which led to Kirk Jackson’s goal – this time, Gavin William’s cross eluded all at the far post.
Doncaster, 2nd in the table before the day started were already assured of a play off position thanks to other results earlier in the day, whether this allowed them to take the foot of the gas, or whether Yeovil’s domination made them look ordinary is open to debate. One thing for sure is that they will need to improve if they want to progress in the play-offs, they certainly did not look like the team who came to Huish earlier in the season.
Then came Darren WAY‘s moment. Earlier, he outjumped the bigger Don Goodman, and then so typical of the little midfielder he chased a lost cause deep into the Doncaster penalty area, and just managed to get his 2 back studs on the ball, before seeing it nestle in the back of the net for his, and Yeovil’s opener. Mobbed by the team he then ran to the dugout and high fived Gary Johnson, as if to say “I told you I would do it”
Only Champions have the authority to play with poise, swagger and a certain arrogance, we had it by the bucket load, it was no surprise 10 minutes later, in the 33rd minute when Johnson found Williams who charged into the box and was brought down by Warrington in the Doncaster goal. Up stepped Michael McINDOE to score from the spot, his 3rd goal in two games.
Jackson then swept down the left hand channel, swung the ball in low and hard only for the last defender to pass back to his keeper, who for some reason picked it up. Before you could say we are the champions, Kevin Gall grabbed the ball, took the free kick instantly and Lee JOHNSON stroked the ball home from six yards. A bizarre goal which typified the champion’s high concentration level when they could have been forgiven for showboating. This team is focused, carry it on next season and do not be surprised to see Division 2 football the year after next, that’s how good they were!
Half time: Doncaster Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 3
The second half started as the first finished, McIndoe, who has played the best football of his Yeovil career lately majestically set up Kevin GALL, who waltzed through the box, took his time, and calmly slotted the ball low into the bottom right hand corner before joining the delirious green army on the terraces. A few minutes later an almost carbon copy move saw Gall in a similar position, this time he elected to go for an exquisite chip which narrowly missed the post on the same side of the goal.
As the second half wore on, Rovers came into the game a little more, not enough though to raise the voices in the seasons best, but subdued home attendance of 5344, No one was going to gatecrash Yeovil’s party though, and the 1000 or so impeccable visiting fans were a credit to the club not only in song, but in behaviour.
On 37 minutes Jackson will be disappointed not to have closed the gap on Doncaster’s own Paul Barnes for the race to the golden boot, clean through with only the keeper to beat a deserved fifth goal seemed inevitable but the keeper pulled of a smart save and parried the shot for a corner.
By now Yeovil had introduced all three subs. Nick Crittenden, Abdel El Kholti, and Adam Lockwood had replaced Andy Lindegaard, Roy O’Brien and Kevin Gall. How Gary Johnson would loved to have broken the rules and give an appearance to all of the squad who had travelled up.
There was still time for some excitement however, earlier in the match Chris Weale made a stunning save, palming the ball to safety. He exceeded that by saving an 89th minute penalty superbly to deny Paul Barnes a chance to increase his “goal difference” over Kirk by 3. Chris Weale will go far! A Doncaster goal was not in the script however, as Lockwood cleared the ball off the line following a last ditch goal bound effort from Rovers.
And then it came, the moment we knew was coming, it was just a matter of time, the whistle blew and Yeovil Town confirmed to the watching nation why they have run away with the conference. The next two weeks will be a huge party for Somerset, not just Yeovil, the town will be a painted green and white, culminating, surely in an early Carnival in front of Sky in two weeks time. I mentioned earlier that word focus, who would bet against the conference points record, 100 league goals, and the golden boot coming to Huish Park? Watch this space, it will be filled with something very exciting!
Full time: Doncaster Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 4
Jeremy Gear
Internet Man of the Match Voting Result:
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Overall match rating: 9.6 / 10
Performance: 9.6
Entertainment: 9.6
72 votes received.
Green and White Goals.
Chris Weale Penalty Save
Kevin Gall’s Finish for the fourth
Lee Johnson’s Opportunistic Goal
Full Match Highlights