Jones salvages point for Rovers

Doncaster Rovers battled back to earn a point in a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United.

Rovers defender Rob Jones headed home with just one minute remaining after it looked like they would return to Yorkshire with nothing after going behind to a dubious penalty with just twenty minutes remaining.

Referee Graham Scott awarded a spot kick when Shelton Martis and Paul Quinn were punished for holding Pool striker Steve Howard in the area, an incident that often goes unpunished.

Neil Austin stepped up for Pool to send Gary Woods the wrong way in the Rovers goal.

Rovers had started the game well but without ever threatening Scott Flinders in the home goal.

Defender Shelton Martis came closest for Rovers in the first half but he failed to keep his header on target whilst James Poole came closest for the home side when his shot hit the outside of a post.

In the second half, Poole went close again when Woods kept out his long-range effort with a good save.

Austin scored the opener from the spot and the home side could have wrapped up all three points when Jonathan Franks missed a good opportunity when he got in behind the Rovers defence but he failed to beat Woods.

Rovers searched for an equaliser and David Cotterill saw his long-range effort tipped over the bar by Flinders.

Just when it looked like Rovers would be leaving with nothing, a deep cross from Kyle Bennett found Jones unmarked at the far post and he headed home in front of the travelling Rovers fans.

The draw for Rovers sees them in ninth place and they face a tricky few weeks with games against Brentford (8th), Tranmere Rovers (1st) and Notts County (5th) in the space of seven days, starting next Saturday with the home clash with Brentford.



Teams

HARTLEPOOL:
Flinders; Austin, Baldwin, Hartley, Holden; Franks, Sweeney, Murray, Horwood (Horwood 35); Noble (Wyke 58 (Humphreys 81) ), Howard.

Subs not used:
McHugh, Humphreys, Collins, Walton, Richards.

DONCASTER: Gary Woods; Quinn, Martis (Husband 81), Jones, Spurr; Cotterill, Syers, Harper, Bennett; Paynter (Ball 65), Brown (Keegan 85)..

Subs not used:
Sullivan, Michael Woods, Blake, Martin Woods

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