Gas Unlucky In JPT Final

Bristol Rovers suffered heartache at the Millennium Stadium as they narrowly lost to League One side Doncaster Rovers 3-2.

Bristol Rovers more than matched Doncaster despite them being a League higher than The Gas. The match started in a disappointing fashion for Rovers, Doncaster were in front within the opening minute as Jason Price crossed and Paul Heffernan’s touch left Jonathan Forte with an open goal from six yards.

Four minutes later the Yorkshiremen were 2-0 ahead as Neil Sullivan’s long punt was latched onto by Heffernan, who smashed a low shot under Steve Phillips.

At this point i could not believe what was happening, but Rovers showed great spirit, fight and determination and made the 38,000 following Gas heads very proud.

49 minutes in, the Pirates were back in the game as Sammy Igoe was pulled back as he closed in on a low cross from the left and Walker smashed home the penalty.

Rovers found themselves level just after the hour mark, Lambert burst into the area before delivering a ball into the box and Igoe supplied the finish, 2-2.

Thirteen minutes from time Sullivan rescued Doncaster with an excellent save from Lambert’s ferocious 25-yard free-kick and he then tipped over Igoe’s 30-yard drive.

Into extra time and Rovers were really starting to look tired. Five minutes into the second period of extra-time, Doncaster skipper Graeme Lee rose highest to meet Sean Thornton’s corner from the left and his thumping header proved to be the match winner. As the full time whistle went Goodnight Irene echoed out around the ground, a sign that Gasheads were proud of their teams efforts.

Overall a great performance from The Gas, they will be feeling themselves very unlucky to have lost the game after having the vast majority of the possession during 90 minutes.
Paul Trollope
‘It was bitterly disappointing to lose those goals so early and in the manner we did.

‘We had plenty of time to respond and I am delighted with the way we did that.

‘But it took a lot out of us and maybe affected our energy in extra time. But we can take a lot of pride out of it.’

Trollope added: ‘We have confidence in our own ability and we know we have players who can hurt the opposition.

‘We played with a good tempo to get back into the game. We can take a lot of positives from the game.’