HALIFAX TOWN 2 DONCASTER ROVERS 1

Rovers' first visit to the Shay in the Conference had been brought forward from the following Saturday after West Yorkshire police had requested the fixture be moved owing to Leeds being at home to Manchester United on the original date. Halifax went into the match after an improving set of results which had followed a rather disastrous set of results which followed their opening day victory, with goals being leaked, players being booked and sent off. Town included two ex-Rovers players in their side, with Lee Butler, now assistant manager at the Shay, taking his place in goal. Brian Quailey was making his first appearance for Halifax after signing on non-contract terms last week - he had been released after being on a similar deal at Belle Vue two weeks ago.

Rovers started the match as Conference leaders by two points, ahead of Chester City, and were looking to extend their lead and extend their unbeaten run. However, Dave Penney had various players absent through injury, and team selection was partly dictated by those on the injury list. Francis Tierney, Dave Morley and Justin Jackson continued to be absent after picking up injuries in recent games, along with Jamie Price and Barry Miller who have been out of action since the summer.

The Rovers support was again magnificent in its quantity, with the entire stand allocated to the away fans being filled, and it appeared that, as in all previous away games, the travelling support had outnumbered the home fans.

Rovers kicked off defending the end filled with the Rovers supporters, and started the game brightly. They won a free-kick in the first minute after Barnes had been fouled - the kick being put out for a corner, with a second corner following within seconds, with Gill's shot from the edge of the penalty area going to the left of the goal. Halifax launched an attack in the fourth minute, although the Rovers defence kept them at range, resulting in Parke firing over the bar from 20 yards. The first shot to be landed on target fell to Rovers in the 11th minute following a good cross-field ball by Paterson on the right wing, finding Watson on the left, with Watson's shot from the edge of the area smacking against the woodwork. A further chance to Rovers came two minutes later when a free kick deep in the Rovers half was flicked on by Barnes into the path of Robert Gill, whose shot lacked power and went straight to Butler in the Halifax goal. After that, the ball spent a lot of time in the air as Halifax sought to frustrate the Rovers style of flowing football, and chances were few and far between. However, a good cross by Paul Barnes in the 20th minute saw Ravenhill's shot from six yards out being tipped around the post by Lee Butler for a corner. A neat move by Rovers in the 27th minute had Gill taking the ball down the right touchline from the half way line, cutting into the penalty area and knocking the ball back to Paterson, Owen heading the Halifax clearance back into the box before the home defence eventually cleared the ball out of the area.

A long ball from the Rovers defence went over the Halifax back line with Gill chasing after the ball. He tried to lob the keeper from 20 yards out, but Butler managed to block his shot at the expense of a throw. A long cross-field ball in the 34th minute found Paterson, playing against his former club, unmarked wide on the right, with his far-post cross being put behind for a corner by Halifax. After several minutes without a goal-scoring opportunity, Halifax won a corner on their left wing in the 39th minute. Clarkson had a free header at goal from just six yards out after finding himself totally unmarked, and made no mistake in heading home into the middle of the net to put Halifax one goal up. This stung Rovers into action, with Gill charging through the inside left position, with the ball working its way out to Paterson on the right wing, the ball being punted back into the area. After Halifax headed the ball out, Rovers patiently worked the way along the edge of the penalty area, trying to work a way through - but it didn't come, and Halifax managed to eventually clear the ball to the half-way line. Rovers were not to be thwarted however, and in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half, they equalised. The goal started with a move on the left wing, with Barrick crossing the ball into the centre, and Barnes steering the ball home past a mass of players.

The second half started with Halifax winning a corner two minutes after the restart, Garnett of Halifax heading wide of the right post. Rovers were forced to make their first substitution in the 51st minute after Ricky Ravenhill had been clattered to the ground on the half-way line, and requiring treatment. He was replaced by Paul Green. Rovers were back on the attack a minute later, with Paterson getting a shot in from the edge of the area which was blocked out for a corner. The corner reached Barnes, who crossed the ball back square for Robert Gill who was just six yards from goal, but the Rovers striker managed to head over when it looked easier to score. The tackles were certainly full-blooded during the opening exchanges of the half, with Jamie Paterson being booked in the 54th minute after fouling Neil Grayston on the half-way line. Halifax won a free-kick down by the corner flag on their left wing in the 56th minute after Ryan fouled ex-Rover Brian Quailey. The kick was crossed into the centre, with Dean Barrick heading into his own net whilst under pressure to clear.

Rovers launched an attack down the right, with Watson trying to curl the ball around Butler from 20 yards, but didn't quite get enough of a bend on the ball, Halifax gaining a goal kick as the ball went past the right post. Rovers had a very good attack in the 72nd minute as Paul Green received the ball 25 yards from goal - forcing Butler to make a good save from his shot with Barrick lobbing the ball back in - but over the bar. Rovers then introduced their second substitution when Tristram Whitman replaced Robert Gill, who had drifted out of the game during the second half. Rovers fans were incensed when Ryan and Simon Parke tussled for the ball just inside the Rovers half in the 75th minute, with Parke clearly holding back Ryan as they challenged for the ball, with it appearing that the players continued their tussle after the ball had gone. Amazingly, the referee decided to take no action and awarded Halifax a free kick. Rovers won a free kick just outside the Halifax area in the next move when Barnes was fouled, with Barrick drilling the kick straight at the defensive wall, with Rovers winning a corner on the left. A flurry of activity in the closing five minutes came as Rovers tried to maintain their undefeated record, with Daniel Bent replacing Simon Marples for his first team debut as Rovers pushed forward for the equaliser. In the third of six minutes added on at the end of the game, Gareth Owen was again denied by Lee Butler after his 25-yard shot was tipped around the post for a Rovers corner. Paterson's corner was met by Green, who shot from six yards, with Butler again thwarting Rovers as he blocked the attempt.

So the Rovers undefeated record came to an end, but still put up a good performance against a robust Halifax side, who continued their improving set of results. But for an inspired performance by Lee Butler, Rovers would probably have won comfortably, but perhaps the extending injury list for Rovers also played its part, with injury forcing Ricky Ravenhill from the field during the second half.