REPORT: Doncaster 1-1 Rotherham

Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Rotherham United
EFL SkyBet League 1
Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster (Att: 12,428)
Saturday 11 November 2017

Rotherham snatched a point with the last kick of this encounter against bitter South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster. The Millers dug in to the very dark depths of their reserves to register an equaliser in the 96^th minute thanks to their on-loan hit man Kieffer Moore (right).

In a region where a spade is called a spade, there was little getting away from the fact that it was a scrappy match that looked as though it was going to be decided by Richard Wood’s own goal just after the hour.

If familiarity breeds contempt, then the absence of each other’s presence for close to eleven years led to Doncaster and Rotherham struggling to work each other out for the best part of the opening half an hour.

Only James Coppinger’s well taken finish – which was ruled out for offside – and a half-hearted appeal for a penalty, when striker John Marquis took a tumble under Josh Emmanuel, looked like unsettling the visitors who kicked on thereafter.

The deadlock somehow remained intact as Paul Warne’s men crashed two headers against the crossbar within seconds of each other. Firstly, Semi Ajayi was unlucky to cannon a John Taylor cross against the woodwork. However, when the rebound fell the way of his defensive partner Richard Wood, it was much easier to score than miss, but he inexplicably thundered his effort back from its original point of contact.

From that, Rotherham enjoyed an ebullient period ten minutes either side of half time; Will Vaulks should have done better with a central free kick which he thumped in to the middle of the away end and, on the stroke of the interval, Moore lost his man for the first time of the afternoon but could only glance Joe Newell’s curled ball off a defender and wide.

Immediately after the break, Moore directed an identical effort ajar of Lawlor’s upright and, being critical, the division’s top marksman should have done better.

Doncaster mustered something – they had to in a game if this magnitude - when Rodney Kongolo had the presence of mind to deliver an inch perfect ball to the near post where Wood, under pressure from the harrying Marquis, turned emphatically past a stranded O’Donnell.

Half-chances for the hosts couldn’t double the advantage as Mathieu Baudry, Marquis and Tommy Rowe tried in vain. When Jonson Clarke-Harris cut inside and thumped the base of the post, it seemed as though Doncaster would cling on.

That was until a furious goalmouth scramble in the heart of the Doncaster penalty area was decisively hammered home by the redoubtable Moore.

Teams:
Doncaster – Lawlor, Blair (Alcock), Baudry, Wright, Butler, Toffolo, Houghton, Kongolo, Coppinger (Mandeville), Rowe, Marquis.
Bookings – N/A

Rotherham – O’Donnell, Emmanuel (Clarke-Harris), Wood (Dav Ball), Ajayi, Ihiekwe, Williams, Vaulks, Potter, Newell, Taylor (Towell), Moore.
Bookings – Ihiekwe (72)

Man of the match – Andy Butler (Doncaster)