A Battling Win

2nd September: Doncaster Rovers 5-3 Boronia

Goals: Oskar Petersson, Trevor Bird (2), Ashley Stevenson, Ben Vernes

Rovers started the day in 5th spot on the ladder, looking for a good result in their last two matches of the season with a potential 3rd place at stake. With Spring well and truly arrived with a warm, sunny afternoon, Rovers starting lineup showed a couple of changes.

Adam Bove took up his customary place in goal behind a back four of Jarryd Pickard, Ben Vernes, Adam Clements and Marc Graziani. Ashley Stevenson started wide on the left, Jeffrey Xu on the right, with Oskar Petersson and Ian Branch in central midfield. Up front, Michael Kil was given a chance to show his speed alongside top-scorer Trevor Bird.

Rovers kicked off and came close to scoring with the opening move of the game. The ball was played back from the kick-off to Ben Vernes who played a one-two with Ian Branch before finding Michael Kil making a run into the inside-right channel. His quick ball into the box found Trevor Bird and the Boronia keeper had to race quickly off his line to smother the danger at Bird's feet.

A minute later, a long clearance was knocked out to the Boronia left wing and a long cross-cum-shot from the Boronia wide player flew over Adam Bove into the roof of the net to give Boronia a shock 1-0 lead.

In the 6th minute, Rovers' problems doubled when the defense failed to deal with a high-bouncing ball letting the Boronia striker through on goal to calmly beat Adam Bove from 15 metres. All of a sudden, Rovers were 2-0 down in a game they were looking to win. Coach Bill Vassiliou decided to move Michael Kil back to his customary position at the back and moved Adam Clements up front.

From that point Rovers started to regain control of the game, pushing Boronia back into their half. On 14 minutes, Ian Branch found Jeffrey Xu who cut in from the right and hit a drive which just cleared the Boronia bar. 4 minutes later, Ben Vernes picked the ball up on the half-way line and played the ball up to Trevor Bird. He laid the ball back to Oskar Petersson whose rasping drive was turned round the post by the Boronia keeper.

On 19 minutes, a long clearance from Boronia found them with an extra man up front and a cross from the left was handled by Michael Kil to concede a penalty and earn himself a booking into the bargain. The Boronia striker struck the penalty well low to Adam Bove's left but Bove had guessed right and dived full length to make his third penalty save of the season and keep Rovers hopes alive.

With Adam Bove the toast of the team, Rovers immediately reapplied the pressure and went close on 23 minutes as a fine run by Oskar Petersson was halted by a last ditch tackle with the goal at his mercy. A minute later, Jarryd Pickard tried his luck with a powerful drive from wide on the right, but with the keeper beaten, the ball just cleared the bar.

On 26 minutes Ben Vernes hit a perfect 40 yard ball to Adam Clements on the left wing but his shot was blocked and the ball was scrambled away for a corner. Boronia didn't learn from the near miss and a minute later, Ben Vernes repeated the pass to Adam Clements who cut inside his defender into the box before being tripped. The referee immediately blew for a penalty giving Rovers a great chance to start the fightback. Oskar Petersson stepped up to take the kick and calmly beat the Boronia keeper just inside the right-hand post to make the score Rovers 1-2 Boronia.

Rovers were now totally dominating the game and creating a succession of chances. Ian Branch teed up Trevor Bird who brought a fine save from the keeper. Minutes later, Oskar Petersson played a one-two with Adam Clements and his shot flew just wide of the near post. On 32 minutes, Oskar Petersson took a corner from the left which was met on the volley by Ben Vernes and the Boronia keeper tipped the ball over the bar as it arrowed towards the top corner.

Two minutes later, Oskar Petersson found himself free again and his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by the keeper. All of Rovers pressure finally paid off from the resultant corner which Oskar Petersson played to the far post where it was headed in by Trevor Bird to give a jubilant Rovers team the equaliser.

In the final minute of the half, Ian Branch found Jeffrey Xu on the right and his cross caused panic in the Boronia defence before they finally hacked the ball clear. Boronia were relieved to hear the half-time whistle, hanging on to a 2-2 draw.

The half-time break brought no relief for Boronia as Rovers took the lead in the first minute of the second half. Ben Vernes won the ball in defence and played a delightful ball over the Boronia defence for Trevor Bird to run on to. He took the ball on and his shot was well stopped by the keeper, but he couldn't hang onto the ball and Ashley Stevenson gleefully knocked the rebound high into the net to give Rovers the lead for the first time in the game.

Two minutes later Rovers went close again as Jarryd Pickard tried his luck from long distance and the keeper was relieved to see the ball clear the bar. On 44 minutes, a good run from Trevor Bird won a corner on the right. He quickly knocked it to the supporting Joel Morandini and the keeper did well to keep out his stinging shot.

On 48 minutes, Boronia reminded Rovers that they were still in the game with a fine drive from the right which Adam Bove watched over the bar.

On 53 minutes, a perfectly weighted ball from Ian Branch found Trevor Bird in the inside-right channel. He cut into the box and slipped the ball to Ashley Stevenson whose snap-shot was saved by the keeper. Trevor Bird was on hand to bundle the ball home but was adjudged to have fouled the keeper in the process.

On 61 minutes, a rash challenge gave Boronia a chance from a free-kick straight in front of goal just outside the penalty box arc. Adam Bove was completely deceived by the flight of the ball and could only palm it into his net. Suddenly, after long spells under the cosh, Boronia were back level at 3-3.

Rovers, however, were not to be denied. A minute later, Ian Branch won the ball in midfield and found Ben Vernes. He played the ball down the line to Ashley Stevenson on the right wing and his inch-perfect cross was met by Trevor Bird who headed home for his second and Rovers' fourth.

With Rovers back in the driving seat, Boronia were again pressed back deep in their own half and desperate defending and some fine saves kept Ashley Stevenson, Ian Branch, Oskar Petersson and Trevor Bird from adding to the score.

Their resistance was finally broken again in the 76th minute. Rovers were awarded a free-kick wide on the left just in their own half of the field. Oskar Petersson saw the run from deep of Ben Vernes from right to left and his free-kick was met perfectly on the volley by Ben Vernes' left foot and the ball flew into the net before the keeper could react.

Rovers players were overjoyed when the final whistle went a few minutes later confirming a fine come-from-behind 5-3 win.

As the other results came in, a heavy defeat for Ashburton at the hands of Knox, and a surprise win for Mooroolbark over Boroondara lifted Rovers into third place.

With one more match to go, away at Ringwood, a win will guarantee third place. However, Ringwood are coming of the back of three successive wins so a tough game is on the cards.