The One That Got Away

19th August: Doncaster Rovers 3-3 Boroondara Lions

Goals: Joel Morandini, Ben Vernes (pen), Trevor Bird

A bright sunny Anderson Park greeted the Rovers players on Sunday for the rearranged fixture against Boroondara Lions. Rovers were looking to improve on an opening day 3-0 reverse and continue their climb up the ladder. News came that Domenic Curulli had been ruled out for the rest of the season with his back injury and Ian Branch was unavailable on a school trip to the snow.

Rovers lined up with Adam Bove in goal and a back four of Jarryd Pickard, Michael Kil, Marc Graziani and Ali Sajadi. The midfield comprised of Ashley Stevenson on the right, Gareth Tanner on the left and Oskar petersson and Karl Pimlott in the centre. Ben Vernes partnered Trevor Bird in attack.

Boroondara kicked off but were immediately on the back foot as Karl Pimlott won the ball in midfield and knocked it forward, forcing Boroondara to clear the ball for a corner. Gareth Tanner sent the ball over from the left and it was headed clear but only as far as Karl Pimlott who shot flew just over. From the goal kick Boroondara proved that they were going to be no pushover by coming close to scoring themselves. A through ball brought Adam Bove quickly out from his goal to smother the ball at the feet of the Lions striker.

Rovers responded and in the fourth minute a long throw from Gareth Tanner was headed narrowly wide by Ben Vernes. A minute later Boroondara caught the Rovers defence napping and it took an acrobatic save from Adam Bove, turning the shot round the post, to keep the game scoreless. A minute later Adam Bove was called into action again as he spectacularly turned a shot from 25 metres over the bar.

With the action swinging from end to end, both defences were tested with Oskar Petersson and Trevor Bird going close for Rovers, Adam Bove again saving well and then Michael Kil making a last-ditch sliding tackle when a goal looked inevitable.

On 18 minutes it was Rovers who broke the deadlock. Ali Sajadi, looking solid at left back, won the ball and played it up the Oskar Petersson who turned his man and slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Joel Morandini who took the ball on and beat the keeper to give Rovers the lead.

Rovers were now playing confidently and chances started to fall their way. Joel Morandini made a determined run down the right, doing well to keep the ball in play as the Lions defender tried to see it over the line. He crossed and Trevor Bird was inches from adding a second. Minutes later, a corner from Gareth Tanner was met on the volley by Oskar Petersson who was unlucky to see his effort blocked. On 22 minutes Ben Vernes flashed an effort wide from 25 metres.

On 29 minutes Rovers had an opportunity to double their lead when a Boroondara defender handled in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Ben Vernes stepped up to take the kick and placed it to the keeper's left giving Rovers a 2-0 lead. Rovers were now knocking the ball about confidently and Boroondara were grateful to reach half-time two goals down.

Half-time: Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Boroondara Lions

The second half commenced with Rovers immediately back on the attack. Three minutes in, a through ball from Ben Vernes found Trevor Bird on the left, who cut in, beating two defenders before sliding the ball under the keeper to put Rovers three up.

On 49 minutes a long throw from Gareth Tanner found Oskar Petersson wide on the left and his immediate cross just cleared the onrushing Ben Vernes, much to Boroondara's relief. Four minutes later, Rovers carved open the Boroondara defence again. Karl Pimlott won the ball well and found Joel Morandini on the right. He beat his man and played the ball through to Trevor Bird who was tackled just before he could get his shot off.

In the 61st minute, Boroondara were thrown a lifeline when Rovers failed to deal with a long pass and the Lions striker was left with a simple finish, giving Adam Bove no chance. With Boroondara now pushing forward with confidence Rovers were looking for a fourth to make the game safe and on 64 minutes, Adam Clements was played through but his shot rolled wide. Two minutes later Boroondara were right back in the game. With Rovers in seemingly no danger, a Lions player picked the ball up 35 metres out and hit a long speculative shot which looped over Adam Bove and into the top of the net to make the score 3-2.

Rovers were now looking nervous and Boroondara were attacking with purpose and Rovers hearts were broken when in the last minute, a long ball into the Rovers box was met by a Boroondara player whose header looped over Adam Bove to level the score.

The referee ended the game as soon as Rovers restarted leaving the final score Doncaster Rovers 3-3 Boroondara Lions.