Lincoln Roses Men's 1 Vs Doncaster 2s

Result: 4 : 2

Goals: Charlie Twigg x 2, Tom Pinder x2

Report:

Roses 1st team travelled to sunny Doncatser to face a 2nd team that struggled last season and only stayed in the league after Leeds HC and Leed Gryphons merged their elite teams and Leeds 2s were relegated from the division. During the summer month Doncaster HC have strengthened with their 1st team returning to National League and with the 1s not playing their EH NL game until Sunday this gave their 2nd team the opportunity to utilise the 1st team squad players.

Roses were given a shaky start to the day when STB arrived 1 hour later for the meet in Lincoln and Captain fantastic gave all drivers the wrong postcode to the venue, eventually everyone arrived with 20 mins to spare and the warm up began. Roses welcomed the return of M.White, Hill and Pinder from their season(s) loans and also were welcoming Leeming, O’Kelly and Twigg into the squad for debuts.

Doncaster started the game brightly and were playing a high press to try and force Roses into mistakes but the solid defensive line exhibiting the control, patience and distribution of a premier league team not a North Division 2 side never looked in danger.

As the half went on Roses started to take control with Twigg and Pinder getting in behind the Doncaster midfield and creating a lot of space for the through balls. Doncaster were soaking up the pressure and defending deep, Roses confidence grew and opportunities came and went like the summer rain until Pinder stepped up and calmed the nerves of the away supporters and the bench.

At half time the team water bottles were relaxing in the garage of Coach Corbett so players were forced to stand parched and watch the new glossy magnets move around the mini white board like a washing machine.

The second half started well with Twigg scoring from a beautiful cross from Johnson and poking in a second minutes later, at 3-0 Roses were cruising then Watkins popped up with a beautiful slide tackle that Shawcross of stoke city would have been proud of and received his 5 minutes sin bin. Doncaster took full advantage of the 10 men and scored 2 quick goals the 2nd a Penalty stroke.

Roses returned to 11 and started to take control again winning numerous short corners but none got away correctly until captain fantastic stepped up and advised a plan B, which Pinder duly put away and celebrated like he had won the world cup (deep down he had as he no longer had the treat of a dirty pint from his housemate). Roses held on and took a well-deserved victory.

This new look squad look capable of pushing on this season and reaching the potential many have led the team believe they can reach in years gone by, only time will tell if this can be secured!!

Squad: Gk Kemsley, Knowles, T.White, Lowe, Leeming, Ingram, Johnson (capt), M. White, Twigg, Temple-Baxter, Pinder, Corbett, O’Kelly, Hill, Watkins, Dewhurst    

Next week: Saturday Home vs Sheffield University Bankers 2s 130pm Start, Sunday EH cup Home Vs Deeside Ramblers (National League North Conference) 12.15pm Start