Doncaster Rovers v Nortcote City Report
Round 4 State League Div.2 South East Friday 4th May 2007
Reserves: Doncaster Rovers 3 v Northcote City 2
Seniors: Doncaster Rovers 1 v Northcote City 1
This weeks Friday Night Football at Anderson Park saw the visit of Northcote City who were relegated from the 1st Division last year. Northcote came in to this game having suffered a heavy defeat the week before and looking to make up ground on Rovers who were sitting equal first on the ladder prior to kick off.
With Friday night home games becoming the place to be another bumper crowd saw the Rovers put in an almost action reply of the first home game of the season…dominating early proceedings…taking a first half lead…letting the opposition get back into the game…giving away a penalty in the first half…and then continually threaten the opposition goal in the second stanza to find the elusive winner!
Joe Biskic welcomed back into the team experienced defender Jason Vukadin and had young Michael Duros return to the bench as the only changes from last weeks line up. In the meantime experienced striker Jeff Stefanidis returned after paternity leave and was getting a run out in the reserves as was Aiden Robertson coming back from injury.
Just like in the previous three rounds Doncaster Rovers looked the more accomplished side in the early exchanges putting considerable pressure on the Northcote defence, which was being well marshalled by George Papadopoulos. When Northcote did come forward there busy forward Abdul Rauf gave the Rovers defence some headaches, with Alan Macinkovic and Vukadin finding it hard to settle.
Our central midfielders found the going a bit tougher this week as Northcote showed to be stronger opposition than North Caulfield last week. Robbie Ardesi and Michael Santoro were as usual fighting for every ball and distributing good balls to our wingers. Anything that did get past these two Rovers junior Johnny Strateas was quick to close down.
In the 27th minute Rovers endeavour paid dividends when the midfield dispossessed Northcote’s Taz Tsoulis and played the ball to Ramzi Nasser on the right who quickly combined with Tony Alessandrino going wide, he then jinked past Jerry Lazaris, and sent a teasing cross over into the box, Northcote’s experienced custodian Robert Brian only managed to palm the swerving cross to the on coming Gerry McAleer at the back post who calmly slotted the ball in the back of the net.
After the re-start Northcote seemed to raise its game and much to the annoyance of Joe Biskic the Rovers team allowed them to come back and make a contest of it. However even for the increased efforts by Northcote they did not really threaten Manny Pappas who again seemed supremely confident in the Rovers goal.
In the 40th minute Rovers conceded a corner and prior to it being taken there was the usual jostling for positions occurring in the box, Alan Macinkovic was keeping a close on eye on the opposition centre forward who then decided to theatrically fall to the down when the two players were simply shoulder to shoulder. The youthful referee Marion Najdovski immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the spot. Once the ensuing protests were dismissed Abdul Rauf scored for the visitors making the score level.
In the second half Doncaster kept the home crowd wondering when the winner will come. As the game came closer to the end the more the team pushed forward with Ross Cardillo almost becoming a midfielder rather than the third defender. McAleer saw a shot whistle past the far past, Alessandrino and Shayan Alinejad all got into good positions but the goal was not to come.
With only 10 minutes remaining Johnny Strateas tackled hard on the left wing to snuff out an attempted Northcote attacked in the fall he was badly injured with a suspected break and was taken from the ground on a stretcher and to Box Hill hospital by Ambulance. The good news was that it was not a break but a dislocated knee and hopefully there is no ligament damage.
So for the second home game of the season Rovers finished with a draw, and conceding a goal from the penalty spot.
The reserves consolidated top spot on the ladder with a close 3-2 win against the third place Northcote City, stroking the ball around well they went ahead in the first half. Then in a frenetic final 10 minutes Rovers went 2 – 0 up only to see the opposition score a soft goal. From the kick off Rovers went forward to go 3-1 up with Northcote scoring again on the final whistle.
This weekend its back on the road to Kevin Bartlett Reserve in Richmond (Mel 45 A12) with the Saturday night clash against Clifton Hill. In the seniors Clifton Hill will want to catch the second place Rovers as we are 3 points ahead, a win will see Rovers open up a 6 point gap over one of the early season favourites. In the reserves its Rovers on top of the ladder against the Second placed Clifton Hill. Kick off times for Saturday 12th May 2007 is 5.00pm for the reserves and 7.00pm for the seniors.
STEVE HARGITAY
Club President
