Rosso report

[Copps is Magic]

Good outing, enjoyable to watch. Don't want to be too negative about Rosso but they weren't really competitive - Frickley put up a better showing last year. Their pitch though is very nice indeed and they seem to have a good group of volunteers running the club.

First Half - the quality of Copps and Greeny shone through. Greeny was playing the holding midfield role orchestrating the entire game. Also noticed Garratt, seems a very technically sound player. The freekick from Copps was sublime.

Second half - we weren't quite as good as the first. Might be a tad harsh but perhaps because Middleton wasn't as effective as Greeny playing the same role. Tommy Rowe individual quality for the first goal. I am sexually attracted to the man.

Stand out performers of the young lads for me was Joe Pugh. Some lovely touches, turns and link up play. One to watch.

[Alan Southstand]

What about Longbottom first half? His goal was pure technique. A great opening 45 mins from a very young lad, I thought. Rosso gave him a bit of rough stuff but he weathered that really well and I thought he should have had at least 1 pen.

Frickley put up a better showing last year against, arguably, a poorer Rovers side. IF we get Green, I think I may start to get quietly optimistic. We are better than we were at this stage last season, no question.

[RobTheRover]

Thanks fellas. Couldn't get there last night.  First "first" preseason game I've missed in ages.

[steve@dcfd]

Knowing ATS and Keegan were injured, McCullough on holiday.

But where
 Baudry, Achilles injury?
Wright
McSheffrey

Let's hope they are all available for Saturday game.

First half performance as a team was good. Second half had good individual performances.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Positive start, but it means little really against that level of opposition.  Good to see strength in the squad throughout though, it feels like something is building.  A good pre season should yield a strong start to the season hopefully.

I feel we need a midfielder (Green? - would certainly add some CM experience and a proven league 2 title winner remember) and a striker with pace to complete the side.

[RoversAlias]

All sounds good.

Frickley will put up a better showing than Rossington. They play in the Northern Premier League and did well last year, they play a few leagues above Rossington who are a 2nd tier NCEL team, some 3 divisions lower down the pyramid.

[Copps is Magic]

Steve, Joe Wright played in the 2nd half alongside Butler. Alan, agree about Longbottom's goal.

As I said about Rosso - I wasn't trying to be disparaging. It will be a massive boost for them having rovers there. The downside is that they didn't pose an attacking threat - so wasn't really a test for our defense or keeper.

[steve@dcfd]

Copps

FIRST HALF XI: Etheridge, Lund, Barker, Garrett, Green, Coppinger, Calder, Longbottom, Alcock, Marquis, Mandeville

SECOND HALF XI: Etheridge, Walker, Middleton, Fielding, Butler, Evina, Blair, James, Rowe, Pugh, Williams
Read more at http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/-rossington-main-0-4-rovers-3182403.aspx#SXx74X1mHLrygtxU.99


Is was Reece Fielding who played alongside Butler second half and I believe his regular position is Midfield

[Copps is Magic]

Stand corrected on that one then, he looks very much like Wright.

[The Red Baron]

Fielding is the next cab off the rank, I believe. He went up to Scotland and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a squad number.