Doncaster 1  Andy Warrington 2  Simon Marples 3  Tim Ryan 5  Dean Barrick 8  Gareth Owen 9  Paul Barnes 11  Jamie Paterson 14  Andy Watson 15  Robert Gill 19  Ricky Ravenhill 23  Stephen Foster Substitutes 6  Mark Albrighton 13  Stuart Nelson 16  Tristram Whitman 20  Paul Green 25  Shields

Goals Watson Shipp Gill   Vickers (og)   Paterson (pen)   Barnes   Stats 12 Goal Attempts 8 9 On Target 3 2 Off Target 5 1 Hit Woodwork 0 6 Corners 2 Cards Yellow None Stein   Vickers   Terry   Junior Red None None

Dag & Red Tony Roberts  1 Ashley Vickers  3 Lee Goodwin  4 Steve Heffer  6 Paul Terry  8 Danny Shipp  9 Mark Stein  10 Steve Perkins  12 Steve West  15 Steve McGavin  16 Danny Hayzelden  19 Substitutes Mark Janney  7 Junior  13 Danny Hill  14 Paul Gothard  18 Mark Rooney  20

Early exchanges gave the impression that the Daggers were back on form for this game. A McGavin low drive that went just wide and another shot from the same source that flew over the bar saw the Daggers have some early pressure as they actually managed to pass the ball around. Doncaster had a chance that forced a great Roberts save though as Goodwin was turned inside and out and Roberts did superbly well to turn away the drive towards his bottom right. Doncaster took the lead though when Watson fired the ball home after another shot had deflected into his path.

West headed just wide as the Daggers tried to get back into it, but Gill almost doubled the lead when he headed goalwards only for the ball to bounce up onto the bar and out. The Daggers full-backs were to have a bad time of it all day as they were continually beaten for pace and the central defenders easily turned. From one foray down the line, Gill finished a cross to make it two. Steve West then had another header saved and Stein missed the rebound from a yard.

From then on it was game over, and Vickers tried to use his left to clear when the right was the better option, skewing the ball into the net. Second half, Vickers, who was absolutely gutted at final whistle, gave away a penalty and Paterson made it four. Shipp took a consolation, but then Barnes found an age on the edge of the box to tee it up, step back and curl it into the corner from 18 yards.

Had the Daggers taken early chances it could have been a different story, but Doncaster's finishing was sublime and they took full advantage of a Daggers defence that was slow on the turn and on the run. Matthews and Smith will be welcomed back when fit to fill this void. Up front, a lack of chance taking has also cost the Daggers dear in recent games.

There were a lot of bad performances defensively, and when the second went in, the whole team died rather than show its usual comeback spirit. Initial enthusiam from many players turned into a lack of willingness to close down and move off the ball.

At the final whistle it was disappointing for Garry Hill to have to virtually force the players to come and clap the few fans who had bothered, and we were also upset that only Paul Gothard and Ashley Vickers had the bottle to come and talk to us before the coaches left. There also seems to be certain players affecting team morale.