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Frickley came within seconds of registering their third consecutive win over neighbours Doncaster Rovers as the visitors claimed an injury time equaliser just as the referee was preparing to blow the final whistle.

The Rovers side comprised only a few familiar names with the rest made up of triallists and junior players whilst Steve Richards gave away few clues to his starting line-up for Saturday's opening game at Burscough with substitutions aplenty taking place during the second period.

It was Rovers who made the early running with Gonsalves heading over from 6 yards on 11 minutes before the same player saw his 12 yard snapshot through a crowded penalty area deflected round a post just four minutes later. Gary Duffty, playing as a left wing-back, had the Blues first attempt at goal when his angled 20 yard drive was well saved by Kearney on 18 minutes. Graham Lewis then headed just over the bar from close range following a corner before the Rovers took the lead through Tristram Whitman, who fired past Mark Wilkinson from 12 yards, on 33 minutes. A slip by Steve Price then almost let in Slack but Wilkinson palmed his effort away. Then, right on the stroke of half time, Gwyn hit a 30 yard shot which beat Wilkinson but rebounded back off the underside of the bar for Duffty to clear.

The second half saw both sides make several changes as the Blues started to press for an equaliser. On 48 minutes Marcus Jones sent a 20 yard drive inches wide of the right hand post before CURTIS BERNARD, from Barnsley, levelled the scores with a close range header after Richard Bashforth had helped a corner into the box. Jones had another 20 yarder well saved whilst Bernard found himself in space in the box but shot straight at the keeper as the Blues increased the pressure. Then, on 80 minutes, Duffty was flattened in the box and BERNARD stepped up to convert the penalty and the Blues looked odds on for a win until deep into stoppage time when the Rovers broke down the right and a shot cam in towards Samways who looked to have saved comfortably but he let the ball bounce out of his hands and over the line before he could retrieve it.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson (Samways 45), Fothergill, Duffty, Foot, Ogley, Gregory, Hanby, Price, Lewis, Savic, Collins. Subs. Matt.Wilkinson, Marsh, Bashforth, Gowen, M. Jones, Bernard

Doncaster Rovers : Kearney, Milligan, Williams, Penney, Gwyn, Watson, Gonsalves, King, Slack, Whitman, Wright. Subs. Towler, Dickman, Maloney, Howe, Ravinda, Frazer.

Attendance : 362