The Rovers' youth team won 1-0 away at Preston North End in the third round of the Football League Youth Alliance Cup on Saturday morning. Congratulations go to the boys for their victory, as they continue their good form this season. Ben Jackson scored the Rovers goal.

The Viking Supporters' Co-operative raised £69.35 for the Coin Trail on Saturday. This is a lower figure than they normally raise, due to the fact that there was only one collector, and due to the "Clubs in Crisis" day, it was also agreed to split the collection between Rovers and Wrexham. The grand total now stands at £26,579.65.

With various cup competitions resulting in many league matches being postponed this weekend, the list of former Rovers players scoring goals is somewhat shorter than usual.
In the Conference North, Scott Maxfield scored Barrow's only goal from the penalty spot as they drew 1-1 at home to Runcorn.
In League Two's crucial bottom of the table clash, Kidderminster came away from Cambridge with a 3-1 win, being set on their way by a Chris Beardsley goal after half an hour - a remarkable victory, especially since the Harriers had been reduced to ten men after just 25 minutes.
Apart from that, the only former Rover we noticed scoring a goal was Padi Wilson, who scored on his debut for Woodley Sports in their 1-1 draw at Clitheroe in the UniBond First Division.

As usual, the Rovers' Supporters Club are running coaches to the away game at Torquay United on Saturday, 5th February. All places on the North Doncaster Branch coach, which is staying overnight, are taken, so the only remaining places are for the day-trip coaches which set off from Retford.
Those coaches depart from Retford at 6.30am, Bawtry 6.45am, Hare & Tortoise 6.50am, Punches 6.55am, Doncaster Royal Infirmary 7.00am and Belle Vue at 7.15am
The fares are:
Members £20.00, OAP's £18.00, U16's £16.00
Non-members £22.00, U16's £20.00
If anyone wishes to book a place, or needs further information, please contact Len South (01302 817347) or Paul Mayfield (01427 880154)

Rovers may have only come out of the game with a point - but it was enough to move them up two places to eighth - their highest placing since mid-September - and bettered only by their opening day position of third. Rovers placed new signing Andy Campbell on the bench for this game, and he was Rovers' first change when he replaced Jermaine McSporran in the 67th minute. Overall, Rovers were below their best, and Andy Warrington had to be at his best to deny Wrexham with two great saves.
The "Man of the Match" voting has now closed - thanks to everyone who's voted this time. The result will be calculated overnight and posted onthis site on Tuesday morning. Other post-match updates are now available on the "matches" section of the site.

The Football League has accepted defeat in its attempts to stop FIFA applying transfer window restrictions across the board. Whilst the Premiership clubs have had to operate under a transfer window for the past three years, Football League clubs have enjoyed an exemption. Further court action had been hinted at, but Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney has sent a letter to all League clubs recognising FIFA's authority in the matter. This will mean that transfers will only be allowed during the close season and during January.

Former Rovers striker Padi Wilson has completed a transfer to Woodley Sports, who play in the UniBond First Division. Wilson scored on his debut yesterday in their 1-1 draw against Clitheroe.
He made ten appearances for Rovers in the 1997/98 season - the most notable event of his stay at the Rovers was that he spent two months in jail after driving whilst banned.
Other past clubs include Leigh RMI, Hyde United, Droylsden, Cheadle Town, Ashton United, Plymouth Argyle, Stalybridge Celtic and Knowsley United.

Rovers still have three hospitality boxes available for the next home game, against Chesterfield, on Saturday, 12th February. They are available on a first come, first served basis, and will cost £700 + VAT for each box, which can hold up to ten people. If anyone is interested, they should contact Ray Thomas at Belle Vue.

Doncaster Rovers include new on-loan striker Andy Campbell in their squad for this afternoon's game at Wrexham, although Dave Penney was proving evasive about whether Campbell would start the game. With Gregg Blundell back to his best in recent games alongside Neil Roberts, a place on the bench for Campbell may be the the answer.
Midfielder Paul Green looks set to be passed fit after having treatment on a bruised foot all week, and defenders Mark Albrighton and Nick Fenton are also available after completing one match suspensions last weekend. Andy Warrington will keep his place in goal, with new on-loan signing Ross Flitney taking a place on the bench.
Ricky Ravenhill, Nic Priet and Simon Marples also came through the reserve team game against Scunthorpe without any adverse reaction, and are available for selection today.
Dave Penney implied in an interview that on-loan striker Simon Johnson has been injured, although had resumed training on Thursday.
We expect minimal changes to the side that defeated Hull last weekend, with any alterations likely to be restricted to the substitutes' bench.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith will be without in-form striker Juan Ugarte for this afternoon's game against Rovers - the striker was booked during last weekend's 4-2 win at Chesterfield (in which he scored all four Wrexham goals) and sits out the game with a one-match ban.
Better news comes with Hector Sam and Chris Armstrong recovering from leg injuries, and Carlos Edwards and Dean Bennett also coming through fitness tests - all four are available this afternoon. Darren Ferguson has also recovered from a twisted ankle and may well return to the starting line-up today.
Wrexham will include on-loan (from Stoke City) goalkeeper Ben Foster for his debut this afternoon, with first choice Andy Dibble being sidelined for a month.

Fans from all over the country will congregate on the Racecourse this afternoon to support a "Clubs in Crisis" day. With it being FA Cup weekend, many supporters of clubs not in action this afternoon are expected to attend. The significance of the afternoon will not be lost on the home fans, whose own club still faces an uncertain future, although things look brighter with news that a takeover of the club may be imminent. Wrexham were deducted ten points by the Football League after going into administration earlier in the season as they faced huge financial problems.
The secretary of Wrexham Supporters Trust, Lindsay Jones, added: "We are expecting fans from all over Britain for this special day. Liverpool FC have been very supportive of us since we have been in administration and the ties between the two clubs go back a long way."
Supporters from Wrexham's great rivals, Chester City, will be there today, along with pledges of support from QPR, Sunderland and Northern Ireland.
Bob Gilbert, an organiser and veteran of Doncaster Rovers own fight for survival, said: “I urge you, passionately, to turn up at the Racecourse on 29 January to show all these people that millions and millions of us do care.”
Click on their logo to the left for more information.

Further to yesterday's news item, Rovers have now confirmed that they have signed goalkeeper Ross Flitney on one month's loan from Fulham as cover for Andy Warrington whilst Stuart Jones is out injured. Ross will be included in the squad for this afternoon's game at Wrexham.

Doncaster Rovers have taken young Fulham goalkeeper on trials as possible cover for Stuart Jones, who will be out for around three weeks. Flitney, 20, joined Fulham from Arsenal in 2000, and is a regular in their reserves.

The Rovers' youth team travel to Preston tomorrow for a third round match in the Youth Alliance Cup. They will face Preston North End in a match played at BNFL Springfields ground (the Preston training ground), with the match kicking off at 11am.

Former Rovers right back Tarkan Mustafa has signed for Nationwide Conference National side Aldershot Town. He moves to Aldershot, who are joint second in the Conference table, from troubled Hornchurch, who were riding high at the top of the Nationwide South until financial problems led to most of their players leaving. Mustafa has signed a contract with Aldershot which runs until May 2006. He played five games on loan for Rovers in the 2002/03 season whilst Simon Marples was injured.

Rovers have today confirmed that Cardiff City Andy Campbell has signed on a one-month loan, and will go into the Rovers squad for Saturday's game at Wrexham. Campbell has been allocated squad number 14.

Cardiff City striker Andy Campbell, the brother of former Rovers striker Neil, is due to sign for Rovers on a one month loan later today. The move, reported on Cardiff City's official web site, should mean that Campbell will join the Rovers squad in time for Saturday's away game at Wrexham.
He began his career at Middlesbrough as a trainee, moving on loan to Sheffield United and Bolton before his transfer to Cardiff, initially on loan in February 2002. After playing in the early matches of the season, he lost his place in the Cardiff side in October, but won his place back for the last two matches, and he featured in Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley.

Doncaster Rovers' reserve team let a two goal half time lead slip at Belle Vue yesterday afternoon to draw 2-2 against the reserve league leaders Scunthorpe United. Ricky Ravenhill scored the opening goal, with Mark Albrighton setting up Guy Ipoua on the stroke of half time. Albrighton and Ravenhill were substituted after 15 minutes of the second half - a good sign that they will be involved in Saturday's first team match - and Scunthorpe scored two goals in three minutes.
First teamers Simon Marples, Nic Priet, James Coppinger and Nick Fenton all came through the game without any problems and will be available for selection at Wrexham.
The Rovers side: Lee Cockerham, Simon Marples, Mark Albrighton, Nick Fenton, Nic Priet, James Coppinger, Ricky Ravenhill, Adriano Rigoglioso, Craig Nelthorpe, Ben Jackson, Guy Ipoua.
Substitutes: Adam Green (for Albrighton, 63), Andy Matthews (for Ravenhill, 63), Adam Lee (for Ipoua, 86), Jason Flint, Andy Pitman

Rovers have reduced the price of the white (third choice) replica kit, with the lower prices now being available both at the on-line shop and in the club shop at Belle Vue. The cost of the strip, which has only been worn once by the first team (in the pre-season game against Sunderland), will be:
Shirts: adult sizes £20.00, child sizes £15.00
Shorts: adult sizes £14.99, child sizes £9.99

Cowdenbeath have issued a statement denying press reports that they are about to see former Rovers striker Dene Shields. There have been persistent reports that they are about to offload the 22-year old striker, who has scored 8 goals so far this season, with Gretna and Heart of Midlothian being linked with the player. The Cowdenbeath chairman, Gordon McDougall, said of the situation: "I can categorically state that we have not received any offers for Dene. He is signed up until the end of next season and it would take an exceptional offer to persuade us to part with him before then."
Shields played for Rovers four times - mainly as substitute - during a one month loan from Sunderland in the 2002/03 season.

Doncaster Rovers' reserves entertain league leaders Scunthorpe United this afternoon in a top of the table clash. Rovers, currently in second place, could close the gap at the top of the table to two points. The match kicks off at 2pm.

Rovers goalkeeper Stuart Jones faces a three week layoff after a scan revealed that he has torn an ankle ligament. The news means that he was denied a further run in the first Injury News
Defender Jamie Price will have a scan this week to try and determine the exact nature of his foot injury that has kept him out of action for a few weeks.
Leo Fortune-West continues to recover from his knee surgery. He will have an arthroscopy on his knee tomorrow to check on how well his knee is healing.

Tickets for the forthcoming home game against Chesterfield (Saturday 12th February) went on sale at the Rovers ticket office yesterday. The game is all-ticket.
The game has been designated as a "Category A" game, meaning the admission prices are as follows:
Seating: Adults £18.00, Concessions £12.00
Standing: Adults £15.00, Concessions £8.00
Chesterfield supporters will only be allocated the terraces at the Rossington End of Belle Vue and the Main Stand seating.

The VSC's "Coin Trail" raised £552.64 at Saturday's match against Hull, taking the new total to £26,510.30. That figure includes £63 which was raised at the Karaoke night at the Viking Bar on Friday evening, in which a match ball from the 1980/81 season was auctioned.

For the second time this season, Rovers outplayed Hull City, but this time they got the three points that they deserved. It took until the 59th minute to see the only goal of the game which was a powerful drive from the left of the penalty area that went into the net, despite goalkeeper Boaz Myhill getting a hand to the ball. Hull failed to land a shot on goal all game - Warrington's only two saves, both good ones, were all in vain as the offside flag also was raised. Things got a little heated during the second half when Hull's persistent handball and fouling tactics eventually was penalised, with skipper Ian Ashbee being sent off for a second bookable offence 13 minutes from the end.
Sadly, Rovers did not move up the table with this victory, but a four point gap has now opened up underneath them, with the gap between Rovers and the play-off places now narrowing to just three points.
The "Man of the Match" voting has now closed. Thank you to everyone who voted - early indications are that we have received a record number of votes for a League match, even when mutlple votes have been removed. We will be announcing your winner on Tuesday morning.

Rovers are restricted in their choices of personnel for the defensive positions for this afternoon's home game against Hull City, with one-match suspensions hitting both Mark Albrighton and Nick Fenton. Combined with the departure of Dave Morley for Macclesfield Town ten days ago, it only leaves Steve Foster from the club's central defenders. Dave Penney looks set to move Tim Ryan into a central defensive position, with Chris Beech slotting in at left back. Dave Mulligan has recovered from illness, and will resume his place at right back.
Simon Marples, Leo Fortune-West and Nic Priet continue their absences due to injury.
John Doolan is also fit to play after misisng the last two matches will suspension and illness. With Penney also confirming that Stuart Jones will keep his place in the side this afternoon, and no new signings being announced, we expect the starting line-up to be: Jones, Mulligan, Foster, Ryan, Beech, Coppinger, Green, Doolan, McIndoe, Roberts, Blundell.

Simon Marples will return to training today after recovering from 'flu, with Rovers hoping that the long-standing groin injury has now cleared up. If the injury problem persists any longer, Rovers will be sending him for an ultrascan to try and find out the exact nature of the injury. The problem with the right back position for Saturday's match continues with Jamie Price suffering from a foot tendon injury which has not yet responded to treatment, and Dave Mulligan is still suffering from the 'flu bug that has swept through the Rovers squad.
Better news comes with John Doolan returning to training after recovering from illness, and Nic Priet has resumed full training this week after good progress from his foot operation.
Mark Albrighton and Nick Fenton will miss Saturday's match due to one-match bans after picking up their fifth bookings of the season against Oldham Athletic last Saturday.

The VSC's "Coin Trail" collected £132.07 at Saturday's away game at Oldham, which now takes the total to £25,894.66. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Former Rovers right back Erdem Artun, who played for Rovers on loan from Ipswich during the 2002/03 season, has been transferred from Ryman Premier League side Heybridge Swifts to Ridgeons Premier League club Halstead Town. Artun played in most of Halstead's pre-season games before signing for Heybridge, but a change in management at the Swifts resulted in his chances in the side being limited.

A Gregg Blundell goal after just 69 seconds put Rovers on the way to victory this afternoon when Michael McIndoe's cross in from the left was fired home from eight yards. A second goal by Jermaine McSporran also came after being set up by McIndoe, and although the home side pulled a goal back, Rovers survived an agonizing seven minutes of added time to take maximum points from the game.
The victory leaves Rovers just four points behind the play-off places in tenth position, and John Ryan's dream of a third successive promotion is still very much alive.
The "Man of the Match" voting has now closed, and the results will be announced on Tuesday morning.

Whilst Hull City have sold out their allocation of tickets for next Saturday's game against Rovers at Belle Vue, there are still tickets available for the home sections of the ground. The Rovers ticket office at Belle Vue is open between 10am and 4pm on weekdays this week, with a late opening on Thursday until 7pm.
The match is designated a category "A" match, meaning that admission prices will be:
Seating: Adults £18.00; Concessions £12.00
Terracing: Adults £15.00; Concessions £8.00