Doncaster Rovers took on Gillingham at home, in both sides’ fifth league match of the season. The Gills came up short against Grant McCann’s side.
Rovers lined up in a four-back formation with key players Luke Molyneux and Billy Sharp starting in the attacking ranks. 40-year-old Glenn Morris started in goal for the Gills, and Jack Nolan looked set to try and impact the game.
A 1-0 victory for the South Yorkshire side, concluded a pretty uneventful match-up. It was a very scrappy and hard-fought affair, but Rovers never seemed to be urged out of second gear; a latter-half dominance by Gillingham was nullified by a resolute Doncaster defence.
Doncaster: Sharman-Lowe, Fleming, McGrath, Anderson, Sterry, Westbrooke, Bailey, Clifton, Gibson, Molyneux, Sharp
Gillingham: Morris, Clark, Ogie, Hutton, Clarke, Little, Lapslie, Coleman, Nolan, Hawkins, Wyllie
Rovers got the game underway at the Eco-Power Stadium, with a clear intent from the beginning. Molyneux, who has been electric at the start of this campaign, looked to get involved early on. A collision between Flemming and Coleman, left the latter on the ground temporarily.
Within the first five minutes, neither side could really get a hold on possession, with the ball pin-balling between the two outfits. A cagey affair nearly-sprung into life, with Morris smothering a through ball that could’ve seen Gibson in on goal.
A double-up on Molyneux had clearly been ordered by Mark Bonner, as the 26-year-old struggled to make his usual impact initially. Early insight suggested that Rovers were the more comfortable on the ball, but Gillingham enjoyed a slight dominance in the aerial department.
The 18th minute offered up the first corner of the game, which ended in an ambitious shot from Jordan Gibson outside of the box. Doncaster started to find their foothold in the tie, and asserted some early, patient pressure.
A promising free-kick in the 24th minute was Gillingham’s first shot of the afternoon, which resulted in a throw-in – this was easily dealt with by the Doncaster defence. Remeao Hutton continued his long-throw endeavours with a potential handball shout waved away by Thomas Parsons. Nolan’s powerful shot was blocked legally, by a red-and-white player, inside the penalty area.
Gibson should’ve scored at the other end, but a fine stop from Morris denied the Rovers winger from securing an opener in the 28th minute. Flemming fed in a ball that was delightfully controlled by the former Carlisle United player, before Gibson struck it.
GOAL: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Gillingham
On the half-hour mark, a lovely turning volley, inside the box, saw Billy Sharp net his fourth goal already this campaign. This was a fine way to get the scoring underway, as a headed ball from Gibson was met with a superb finish – which displayed the 38-year-old’s ever-present abundance of athleticism.
Bailey was knocked to the ground shortly after this goal, by Gillingham’s number 22, Shadrach Ogie. The resulting set-piece nearly saw another conversion as Molyneux lobbed Morris from the right-hand side of the six yard box. But, this audacious volley lofted just over the crossbar.
Jamie Sterry picked up a yellow card, the first of the game, in the 39th minute for a challenge on Jayden Clarke. This nearly punished McCann’s side as Sharman-Lowe had to do some brave goalkeeping, in order to claim the high ball from the conceded set-piece, and assert some dominance in his penalty area.
Owen Bailey started to gain more and more involvement, looking to pick out Sharp for his brace. A good cross from the 25-year-old allowed the former Sheffield United striker to get a clean connection with his head, but he diverted the ball past the left-hand goalpost.
Half-Time: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Gillingham
A half-time introduction of Elliott Nevitt saw the Gills try and play more on the front-foot, with a more attacking approach. The 27-year-old has made one appearance for Gillingham, scoring in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
Molyneux opened up the second half by putting the ball in the back of the net, but the Doncaster number 7 was flagged offside, rendering the smart finish pointless.
A second yellow of the game was handed to the substitute Nevitt, as he left out his trailing foot for Doncaster’s number 4 to trip over. At the other end of the pitch, a lofted effort from the right-hand side nearly doubled Rovers’ lead. The crossbar reverberated as Molyneux launched a cheeky, accidental effort towards goal near the byline.
Sharp cleverly chested the ball into the path of Gibson who fed it back to the 38-year-old and eventually it fell to Bailey. The resulting shot from the latter was blocked by an onslaught of blue bodies.
In the 57th minute, Gillingham tried to bundle the ball over the Doncaster goal-line, but it was cleared away, and a subsequent headed attempt sailed over the crossbar.
A double substitution for Bonner’s side, introduced Jonathan Williams for Coleman, and Jacob Wakeling came on for Clarke. Rovers soon followed suit with their own change, as Joe Ironside replaced the goalscorer, Sharp.
A glancing header from Jay McGrath, nearly handed Zain Westbrooke an assist from a right-sided free kick for Doncaster. However, the centre-back couldn’t make the most of his aerial dominance, despite ending up with an uncontested duel in the middle of the box.
The majority of the early second half exemplified Doncaster’s satisfaction of knocking the ball around, keeping possession. Flemming marauded down the left-hand side in the 69th minute, before drilling a cross into the box. This attempt was parried away fiercely by the 40-year-old ‘keeper.
Despite starting as a wide centre-back, Hutton looked increasingly dangerous as the 73-minute mark ticked by. The defender weaved in and out of the Doncaster left-flank before putting a cross in to Williams, who’s headed attempt was blocked behind for another Gillingham corner. Bonner’s side, who topped the table ahead of today’s fixture, took a much-needed break to discuss the ‘endgame’ plan.
Josh Andrews entered the fray, in exchange for Lapslie’s departure. The 22-year-old looked to try and turn the tide for the away club.
The 80th minute saw Doncaster make their final changes, with Ben Close coming on for Westbrooke, and Kyle Hurst made his fifth appearance by replacing Gibson.
Williams tried to make something substantial happen on the attacking front for Gillingham, as the 30-year-old caused a nuisance in Grant McCann’s side’s box. However, despite the Gills starting to look the more threatening, very little end product was exemplified.
Joseph Gbode came on for Nolan, as more attacking force was thrown into the away side’s line-up. The former looked threatening down the right, but a clear way through the South Yorkshire side’s defence looked almost impossible.
Five minutes of added time included: a plethora of crosses from Gillingham being dealt with by McCann’s side, a defensive change with Joseph Olowu replacing Molyneux, and an ambitious final shot by Armani Little, sailing high over the bar.
Full-Time: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Gillingham
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