DONCASTER ROVERS 2 BARNET 1

The first match of the new season took place on a sweltering sunny afternoon at Belle Vue, when summer made a somewhat tardy appearance. Both sides were hoping to make a good start after finishing in fourth and fifth places in last year's Conference. Rovers, installed as the potential Conference champions by the BBC's web site, fielded the same starting eleven as appeared at Gainsborough Trinity a week earlier, with Jackson recovering from injury to take a place on the bench. Steve Foster, who had signed on a short-term contract to cover for injuries to central defenders Barry Miller and Mark Albrighton, appeared on the bench after playing just part of the last pre-season game against Maltby in midweek. Barnet were reportedly badly hit by injuries, although they had former Arsenal midfielder David Hillier making his debut.

Barnet kicked off for the first half attacking the Rossington End of the ground. Rovers mounted a first-minute attack with a long ball from Barrick aimed at Gill, but the ball was a little too far ahead of the Rovers striker. Rovers then found themselves on the receiving end for the next few minutes as Barnet successfully tried to impose their authority on the game, although the Rovers defence held firm at the edge of their penalty area. After six minutes of play, Rovers mounted an attack of their own when a cross in from the right was headed on by Barnes, finding Gill who shot just wide of the left post.
A neat move followed the winning of a free-kick in the centre circle which was quickly taken by Morgan, another Rovers debutant. He chipped the ball out to Watson on the left wing, who went down the wing before cutting infield, but his cross was too close to Harrison in the Barnet goal, who easily caught the ball. Barnet's Junior Agogo, making his first appearance for the club, fired wide from 18 yards moments later. The referee spoke to Rovers' midfielder Alan Morgan in the 14th minute after fouling Barnet's Hillier, but no card was shown. Robert Gill had to leave the field for treatment a couple of minutes later after taking a knock on the knee. The Rovers defence came under considerable pressure whilst they were down to ten men, although they restricted Barnet to long-range efforts on goal. Whilst often on the back-foot, Rovers mounted a good challenge on the Barnet goal in the 20th minute with Dave Morley putting in a good cross from the right that was caught just underneath the crossbar by Harrison.

Rovers won the first corner of the game in the 23rd minute after a move involving Barrick and Watson, whose cross was blocked our of play by Barnet. Most moves at this time were coming down the Rovers left wing, and through Watson in particular, although they rarely were able to capitalise on his efforts. Rovers were lucky to escape with their goal intact in the 29th minute when a long ball over the top of the Rovers defence had Morley back-tracking, with his header being short of power, with Barnet's Agogo lobbing the Rovers keeper Andy Warrington. Luckily for Rovers, his effort from 18 yards went just over the bar.

Rovers had an appeal for a penalty turned down in the next minute when a ball was played through from Paul Barnes to Andy Watson inside the left side of the penalty area. A challenge from Barnet's defence left Watson on the floor, but despite the anger vented by the crowd, the referee was unmoved and refused to give Rovers the spot kick. Worse was to come within a couple of minutes when Rovers went behind whilst Watson was off the field receiving treatment. A speculative shot from twenty yards by Ben Strevens was hit along the ground, with not a great amount of power, but the shot, which Warrington ought to have easily saved, went under the diving keeper's body and into the net - Warrington's frustration at his error being evident in the seconds that followed. Barnet almost went further in front within sixty seconds when an attack down the right wing, with Warrington hesitating to come out to intercept the ball. Agogo latched onto the ball, his fierce shot smashing against the crossbar and going out of play for a goal kick. Four minutes before the break, Barnes was again brought down, this time inside the "D" of the penalty area, when Barnet's Pluck was booked for his misdemeanour - he was lucky to stay on the field as he appeared to be the 'last man' - which is supposed to be a dismissable offence. The free-kick which resulted was taken by Tierney - his powerful effort hit the crossbar. Within seconds, Rovers won yet another free kick just outside the area, with the rebound off the bar being handled by a defender. This time, the numerous ranks of Barnet defenders cleared their lines at the expense of a throw-in.

Rovers made a substitution at half time, with Watson being replaced by record signing Justin Jackson, and Robert Gill being transferred from his strikers' role to the left wing. Jackson quickly tried to exert his influence on the proceedings when he received a ball through from Tierney, but Jackson's shot lacked any power, with the Barnet keeper easily collecting the ball. The 49th minute saw Barnet having to scramble another Rovers attack, which again came via Jackson - and Jackson was again involved in the 51st minute when he hit a magnificent shot from 18 yards which clipped the crossbar. Rovers continued to exert pressure on the visiting defence with Gill and Jackson again going close. However, they could not afford to be complacent, with Barnet launching a quick attack down their right wing - a cross by Agogo finding Strevens at the far post, who tried an overhead kick, which fortunately for Rovers, went wide with the goal at his mercy. The Rovers midfield was struggling to put their influence on the game, and in the 63rd minute they replaced Robert Gill with Paul Green, switching Tierney over to the left wing, with Green going wide on the right. Virtually immediately the Rovers midfield looked much more effective, and within five minutes of being introduced, Green had fired in the Rovers equaliser. Justin Jackson showed good control wide on the right before pulling the ball back to Paul Green twelve yards from goal, who hit the ball with great venom into the top right corner of the net, putting Rovers level. Ricky Ravenhill came in the 70th minute to replace Alan Morgan in the Rovers midfielder, and the most obvious penalty appeal of the afternoon came within another couple of minutes, with Jackson firing a powerful shot goalwards, with a Barnet had clearly blocking the ball - but despite Jackon's protestations, nothing was given. Paul Barnes then had a goal-bound shot from the edge of the area tipped over the bar by Harrison in the Barnet goal.
Rovers took the lead in the 82nd minute which followed a corner taken by Tierney on the left wing. His pin-point cross found Morley rising to meet the ball, and Morley's header rattled the underside of the bar before dropping downwards and over the line. Barnet managed a couple of shots from well outside the Rovers penalty area as they strove to get back on level terms, but the Rovers defence successfully held them at bay to come out the winners of the game.

Bearing in mind that Barnet won both encounters of last season, this was a very pleasing start to the season. The team played well despite the incredible heat and humidity, with most players taking advantage of the many breaks in play to take drinks. Although the Rovers midfield struggled for the first half of the game, once the substitutions were gradually made, they pulled themselves back into the match - with Paul Green in particular doing very well after coming on to replace the unfortunate Gill, who had previously done well in his strikers' role being moved to a left-wing position.