Game of the Season

5th August - Ashburton 2-6 Doncaster Rovers

Goals:Jeffrey Xu, Ben Vernes (2), Ashley Stevenson, Oskar Petersson, Ian Branch

Rovers made the journey down to Watson Reserve in Ashburton looking to improve on the last meeting between the two sides when Ashburton had taken the points in a 4-2 win at Anderson Park.

Adam Bove recovered from his bout of flu to take up his customary position in goal. The back four welcomed back Dominic Curulli after his back injury where he lined up alongside Michael Kil, with Jarryd Pickard and Marc Graziani at fullback. In midfield, Karl Pimlott started on the right, Jeffrey Xu on the left with Ben Vernes and Oskar Petersson in the middle. Ian Branch partnered leading goalscorer Trevor Bird up front.

Rovers kicked off and within seconds Trevor Bird had forced the Ashburton keeper into a save. With Rovers playing the ball about well, it didn't take long to open their account. Karl Pimlott played a well-timed ball through the inside-left channel for Ian Branch who turned and shot low to the keeper's left. The keeper got down well but could only parry the ball out to Jeffrey Xu who calmly chipped the ball into the unguarded net to give Rovers an early 1-0 lead.

Rovers continued to press and won a succession of corners but were unable to pierce the massed ranks of the Ashburton defence. On 13 minutes, Karl Pimlott picked up the ball near the right-hand corner flag and beat two defenders before shooting at the near post. The keeper saved well and Trevor Bird pushed home the loose ball only to be ruled offside by the referee.

Two minutes later Ashburton were level. A long ball out of defence was seized on by the Ashburton striker who beat Dominic Curulli to the ball and confidently slipped the ball past an onrushing Adam Bove to make the score 1-1. Rovers, however, were not knocked out of their stride and continued to press for a second goal. A cross from the right caused panic in the Ashburton defence who were unable to clear the ball out, but a clash of heads between Jeffrey Xu and Ian Branch stopped the play, with the latter needing to be replaced up front by Gareth Tanner.

On 21 minutes, Rovers regained their lead . Jeffrey Xu, impressive on the left flank, beat his man and laid the ball inside to Gareth Tanner who in turn found the hard-working Oskar Petersson. He passed to Ben Vernes on the edge of the box whose shot bobbled through a crowd of players and evaded the keeper to make the score 2-1.

Three minutes later, Ben Vernes picked the ball up in the centre circle and, unchallenged, advanced to the edge of the Ashburton penalty area and drove the ball into the top right of the Ashburton goal giving their keeper no chance - a contender for goal of the season. With a 3-1 lead Rovers continued to press forward. Michael Kil intercepted a pass in the centre of the field and found Jeffrey Xu out on the left. He cut in and shot forcing the keeper into a smart save at the near post. The ball fell to Gareth Tanner who put the ball just wide.

On 33 minutes a fine run and cross from Jeffrey Xu evaded the onrushing Rovers strikers and a minute later Trevor Bird hit the post with a snapshot on the turn. Ben Vernes met the resulting corner by Ashley Stevenson with a firm header but the ball just cleared the crossbar. With Jeffrey Xu and Ashley Stevenson impressing on the wings, the Ashburton players were pleased to hear the half-time whistle.

Half-time: Ashburton 1-3 Rovers

With Dominic Curulli feeling a twinge in his back, he was replaced for the second half by Ali Sajadi, with Marc Graziani moving into the middle. Kenneth Ng replaced Jeffrey Xu on the left. Rovers started the second half as they finished the first, with Oskar Petersson shooting narrowly over.

On 45 minutes, Ashburton won a free kick 30 metres from goal. The Ashburton striker shot for the top corner and brought a wonderful save from Adam Bove who somehow managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Three minutes later, Rovers increased their lead with Oskar Petersson finding Ashley Stevenson at the far post and he drove the ball past the keeper to make the score 4-1.

On 62 minutes, Oskar Petersson played a delightful through-ball inside the fullback for Kenneth Ng but he was just beaten to the ball by the Ashburton keeper, quickly off his line. Three minutes later Kenneth Ng returned the favour with a quick throw-in to Oskar Petersson whose shot from the edge of the box beat the keeper to give Rovers a 5-1 lead.

Gareth Tanner then knocked a through ball through for Oskar Petersson who beat the onrushing keeper but the ball rolled just wide of the post. On 76 minutes, Karl Pimlott, impressing in a holding role in front of the defence made a fine sliding tackle in front of goal but the referee awarded Ashburton a penalty and their player gave Adam Bove no chance with a shot high into the top corner to make it 5-2.

However, Rovers were not finished and a quick turn in the box by Trevor Bird allowed him to find Ian Branch who shot confidently from 15 metres to give a final score of Ashburton 2-6 Rovers. The win moved Rovers up to fourth on the ladder, just a point from second spot.