JPT Final: Bristol Rovers 2 - 3 Doncaster Rovers
Almost 60,000 fans descended on Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the 2007 Johnstone Paints Trophy and were treated to a roller-coaster ride of a match. Doncaster found themselves two goals up on five minutes, thanks to a first minute strike from Jonathan Forte, quickly added to by ex-Bristol City striker Paul Heffernan. Had Donny scored too early? Very likely, by what was to follow. Doncaster held the lead until half-time but Pirates manager Paul Trollope must have given the speech of a lifetime, during the break.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Gas were awarded a penalty when Sean McDaid brought down Lambert in the box and Richard Walker stepped up to start the comeback. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Sammy Igoe levelled, to send the Bristol Rovers fans into rapture. Just prior to the equaliser, Doncaster had had the influential Jason Price stretchered off, to be replaced by the less than effective Sean 'Slim Shady' Thornton. From then onwards it was end to end stuff, with both sides having and gifting chances.
Despite the humourous confusion of the Doncaster commentators, who thought that normal time would be immediately followed by a penalty shoot-out, as in previous rounds, the game went into a period of extra time. The extended period seem to bring out the nerves in the tiring players and the first half was decidedly uneventful, leaving things still level at the mini-break.
Then for the dramatic climax to this exciting encounter. Donny piled on the the pressure with two successive corners, the second earnt by Graeme Lee, who went on to head in the winner from the set piece. The Doncaster commentators erupted into heartfelt roars of celebration, with ten minutes left on the clock. Renewed optimism and humourous comments from the Northerners brought the game into dock, at the end of this undoubtedly thrilling journey.
Unlucky Gas. After knocking us, Bristol City, out in the area final, I would probably have preferred to see you go on to win it, especially after levelling from two goals down in the final. But it wasn't to be and it adds a little bit of spice from a City fan's perspective, that Paul Heffernan got one of the goals for the winning team. Steve Phillips will be glad that the major fixtures are going back to Wembley, as since winning the same trophy, then known as the LDV Trophy, with Bristol City, he's now had two losing visits to the Welsh stadium.
Still, only the very best sides get to win this covetous trophy, just kidding, although many see it as the Mickey Mouse Cup. I can't really disagree with that, but it is good for the lower division clubs who are eligible to enter the competition. Both clubs will have made a good wedge from the journey to the final and both sets of fans were treated to a classic final. Somebody had to leave empty handed and broken hearted, but as all great losers say, it's not the winning that counts, it's the taking part. Yeah right!
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