Donny In Paint Job Success!

Today my hometown club Doncaster Rovers won their first trophy in the 128 year history of the club. They beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 after extra time in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

Bristol Rovers hadn't conceded a goal throughout the competition so far but that didn't last long - just 43 seconds was on the clock when Jonathan Forte smashed the ball home to give Donny a dream start. Things got better for the South Yorkshire side when on loan keeper Neil Sullivan launched a goal kick straight to Paul Heffernan who vollied the ball into the Bristol goal 2-0. At this point I thought job done but all credit to Bristol Rovers who was determined to make a fight of it and after the break Richard Walker pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Sammy Igoe was fouled and then Igoe himself levelled for the League 2 side. At this point it was end to end stuff and the result really could have gone even way with chances at both ends. With the match looking like it was heading into extra time Paul Heffernan raced clear of the Bristol defence but hit his shot wide of the target. The winning goal came in the 1st period of extra time when Doncaster's captain Graeme Lee leaped highest to meet Sean Thornton's in swinging corner and bulleted a header into the net with just minutes remaining and therefore became the last goalscorer of an English football match at the Millennium Stadium and secure Doncaster's first trophy.

Remarkably 60 000 were in the Welsh capital to watch the final with Donny bringing 20,000 fans despite an average gate at the Keepmoat Stadium being around 8500 and 40 000 Bristol Rovers fans made the 40 minute journey despite an average gate of around 5000.