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Friday 30th July - Frickley Athletic 2-5 Doncaster Rovers

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A crowd of 669 was in attendance at the Millennium Worldwide Stadium to see the Blues play Doncaster Rovers in a Testimonial game for Gary Hatto. Before the game a presentation took place on the pitch to recognise Gary's service to the club.

After a reasonably tight opening ten minutes Rovers opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Chris Beech sent over a cross from the left which Chris Beardsley headed in from six yards. A minute later March Shackleton did well to block an angled drive from Coppinger as Rovers went close to increasing their lead. The Blues had their first gloimpse of goal on 18 minutes when a half cleared corner fell to Lee Pugh but his angled volley was easily caught by Rovers' triallist goalkeeper Pascal Formann. Rovers scored their second on 24 minutes when Coppinger got goal-side of Antony Jackson who did well to get back and force Coppinger away from goal but the lively forward managed to send over a chipped cross to Beardsley who easily headed in his second goal of the game. The visitors were looking dangerous in almost every attack, whereas the Blues were struggling to make much impact in the final third of the field. Bearsdley missed a great chance to notch his hat-trick on 28 minutes when Coppinger fed him inside the box but Beardsley dragged his 15 yard shot wide of the far post. The Blues pulled a goal back on 32 minute when Pugh's pass sent STEFAN ZOLL clear and the former Whitby Town strike confidently placed the ball past Formann and into the net. Zoll had a chance to level the scores 2 minutes later when Steve Robinson's ball over the Rovers defence found Zoll just inside the box but Formann blocked Zoll's first time shot with his legs. Rovers regained their 2-goal advantage on 39 minutes when Coppinger was sent clear in the box, he drew Shackleton and then squared the ball to the unmarked Beardsley who tapped into the empty net to complete his hat-trick. Just before half time Coppinger sent over a great cross from the right that Beardsley met with a powerful header but Shackleton did well to push the ball around the post. 

The Blues started the second half positively but found themselves 4-1 down on 50 minutes when Adriano Rigoglioso's low 25 yard free-kick was spilled by Shackleton and Chris Beech followed up to tap the ball in. Coppinger then went close twice before on 55 minutes he broke past Phil Lindley into box and then rolled the ball across goal for beardsley to tap in from almost on the line. At the other end Zoll weaved his way past two defenders on the edge of the box before opting to try and beat a third instead of shooting and was dispossessed. Lindley then went close but his header from a Wayne Benn free-kick just cleared the crossbar. As Rovers started to make a string of substitutions Dale Rimmington found himself in space on the edge of the box but he dragged his shot across goal. The Blues finally got some reward on 82 minutes when Robinson's long ball from the back found ZOLL sprinting through a static Rovers defence and he coolly lobbed the advancing keeper to make the score 2-5. Two minutes from the end Shackleton was twice called upon to pull off saves to keep the score down but, despite the result it was a thoroughly enjoyable and deserved evening for Gary Hatto.

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