Town 2-3 Doncaster Rovers - Second Half Goal Fest Ends in Defeat for Town

Doncaster Rovers edged a five goal contest at The EnviroVent Stadium as our final pre-season fixture ended with an entertaining defeat.

The visitors went in ahead at half time through Kyle Knoyle's volley, before four goals in the opening nine minutes of the second half, including Jack Muldoon once again finding the net, saw Doncaster 3-1 ahead.

Luke Armstrong's 65th minute finish made it a difficult end for the League One visitors, but Town couldn't find an elusive equaliser despite a spirited finish.

Simon Weaver made five changes from Tuesday night's win at Darlington with Warren Burrell, Alex Pattison, Rory McArdle, Luke Armstrong and George Thomson back in the side.

Thomson went close to putting Town ahead in the 12th minute with an attempted lob over Louis Jones' whose wayward pass left him in no man's land, but could only find the side netting.

Doncaster grabbed the first goal of the game in the 19th minute as their Trialist spotted the late run of Knoyle into the box, from where Rovers' number two was able to lob Mark Oxley with a first time finish.

Town's best chance of an equaliser before the break came as Armstrong, Aaron Martin and Jack Muldoon all combined with five minutes remaining, the latter's shot well blocked by Tommy Rowe.

Town made a strong start to the second half and were level after just three minutes, a brilliant free kick delivery by Thomson converted at the far post by Muldoon.

The score was level for just a matter of seconds though as Tiago Cukur's shot was parried into the path of Aidan Barlow to tap into an empty net.

One of Doncaster's two trialists then made it three in the 53rd minute, finding the back of the net with a long range strike.

Thomson again turned creator in the 65th minute, winning the ball back high up the pitch and picking out Armstrong who halved the deficit with a first time finish.

With both sides making multiple changes, Town pressed for an equalising goal, with second half arrivals Simon Power and Ryan Fallowfield looking lively.

The last chance of the afternoon fell to Thomson after good wing play from Power, but our number seven couldn't find the required finish to level the score.

Town: Oxley, Page (Fallowfield 74), Falkingham (Kerry 74), Burrell (Sheron 74), Thomson, Martin (Power 69), Pattison, Muldoon (Orsi 74), Hall (Smith 74), McArdle, Armstrong

Subs not used: Cracknell

Goals: Muldoon 48, Armstrong 65

Doncaster: Jones (Trialist 69), Knoyle (Seaman 76), Trialist (Trialist 69), Anderson, Williams, Bogle (Williams  85), Rowe, Smith, Trialist (Horton 76), Barlow, Cukur (Trialist 66)

Subs not used: Trialist, John, Hasani, Bottomley, Blyth

Goals: Knoyle 19, Barlow 50, Trialist 53

Referee: T Nield