The Keepmoat Stadium, home of Doncaster Rovers based in South Yorkshire and play their trade in League One. My second visit to this ground and this time it’s in the away end with my beloved Mansfield Town in the second round of the FA Cup!! Over 3,000 travelling from Mansfield for today’s game including Broseph, the Super Stag, Tom, Fez, Chris, Curt and Jack! Looking forward to this one!!
The journey now from Shirebrook to Thorne for our first stop of the day. About 40 minutes later and her we are and Mansfield have taken over the town!!! The atmosphere is building and fast!!!
But time is up now and time for the game and the short journey across to Doncaster. About 30 minutes to kick off and here we are! £5 to get in here! The magic of the Cup! The atmosphere is alive in the breakout area here!!!!!
Kick Off! “Yellow & Blue army!!” Mansfield fans still going!! 6 minutes in and Rovers come forward, Aiden Barlow is played into the box on the right and he plays it across goal and here’s Branden Horton… It’s a goal… He had the freedom of Yorkshire there!! Donny have the lead and Mansfield are behind… But not broken!!! “Yellow & Blue army!” 1-0!
“We’re the Mansfield boys! Making all the noise! Everywhere we go!!!” Mansfield having most of the possession but Rovers possess a big danger on the break but nothing else to report at the moment, Mansfield are not out of this yet. “Since I was young! I followed them! MTFC! The team for me!” Mansfield certainly winning the atmosphere battle! Drowning out any noise from the Rovers fans.
32nd minute and Mansfield come down the left side, the ball is played into the box towards Lapslie… He scores… But the flag is up… It won’t count. 37 minutes now and Mansfield have a free kick in the Donny half, it’s lumped into the box, Rhys Oates with the header… Wide! The game drags on and Mansfield are starting to come good but at half time the score remains 1-0 to Rovers… Not today Mansfield please!
Second half, 47 minutes on the clock and Mansfield come forward, ball played through to George Maris in the box, he shoots… Keeper saves and it’s a Mansfield corner, in it comes… Flicked on… It comes to Will Forrester at the back post… YES IT’S THERE!!!!! MANSFIELD ARE LEVEL!!!! RELIEF!! Carnage in the away end and here comes the pyro!!!! 1-1!! Game on!!!
“WAHEEEY WAHOOAAH!! Super Mansfield!” Mansfield fans still going strong! Mansfield looking the better team now and taking the game to Rovers. 59 minutes now and Mansfield come again, Jordan Bowery has it and gets into the box, he goes for goal… Saved and it comes to George Lapslie…… YABBA DABBA DOOOOOOOOO!!!! MANSFIELD ARE IN FRONT!!!!! The away end goes crazy again!!!! Here comes the pyro again!!!! 1-2!!! Come on!!!!
Mansfield keep on coming with Rovers looking shell shocked. 66th minute and Mansfield have a free kick on the right, it’s played in low, it comes back to the taker to cross, it comes to Forrester at the back post again!! Shot blocked and it’s out for a corner, in it comes… Off a Mansfield head… But out for a goal kick.
70 minutes now and Mansfield come forward again, pass, pass, pass, what a move this is and it’s played across to George Lapslie…… OOHHHHHH!!! I DON’T BELIEVE THAT!!!!! WHAT A GOAL!!!! OH BABY!!!!! Just like watching Brazil!!! An incredible passing move there and Lapslie to finish it off!! And it’s 1-3!!!!!
81st minute and Mansfield have a corner, in it comes… Here’s O’Toole with the header… Wide! 83rd minute and Rovers have a free kick towards the edge of the Mansfield box, it’s laid off for Tommy Rowe to strike… And he scores…… It’s 2-3!! It’s looking like a nervy ending for us in the away end now… Don’t blow it Mansfield!
“There will be a minimum of 5 minutes added time…” Just great… Can Mansfield hold on? Into stoppage time and Mansfield have the ball on the left wing running down the clock, it comes to Bowery who beats his man and gets into the Rovers box, he plays it across to George Maris… Wide!
About 90+3 now and Mansfield break from a Rovers attack, Stephen Quinn bares down on goal and he goes for it… Good save by the keeper!! Rovers clear. Rovers throwing the kitchen sink at Mansfield now… The Referee looks at his watch… And he blows for full time!!! MANSFIELD ARE IN THE THIRD ROUND!!!! What a result! WHAT A DAY!!!
FT: Doncaster Rovers 2-3 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – Unreal from the Mansfield fans today!!! Pyros, drums and a wall of noise from before the game till the end!! Couldn’t hear anything from the Rovers fans apart from when they scored but it looked like a group of them were enjoying themselves at the other end with their phone lights on at points in the game but one of the best atmospheres I have been a part of!!
- The Ground: 7/10 – Same as last time I visited! Nice ground still a bit big for the fan base though I’d say…
- Expense: 10/10 – £5 for that? Unreal!!! Great game for the neutral as well!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – One of my best days watching Mansfield Town!!! Went through the motions at the end but had a great time!!! A great day to be associated with Mansfield Town!! Let’s hope for a good draw in the third round!!
37/40
For my last visit, click here