Niall’s not shy and gets his rewards
NIALL Mason’s winning goal was his first for Doncaster and a reward for self-confidence.
Darren Ferguson revealed after the game that he had no idea who would take the 33rdminute penalty awarded for a clumsy challenge by Ryan Sweeney on Tommy Rowe.
But the Doncaster manager was delighted it turned out to be Mason when the 20year-old found the roof of the net with a fiercely-struck spot-kick.
Ferguson said: “I had a strong feeling before the game that we would get a penalty, so I told the lads to get together in the dressing room and choose who would take it.
“I left them to it and didn’t know the outcome. But Niall has clearly put his hand up and that showed great character on his part.
“I don’t like seeing players arguing on the pitch about who is going to take penalties, so I’m pleased they sorted it out beforehand.
“The pitch was difficult and this is never an easy place to visit because the home fans are very good and the atmosphere can be intimidating. It is a great win for us.”
The spot-kick was awarded by referee Dean Whitestone after Rowe had exchanged passes with Alfie Beestin to burst into the box. Sweeney mistimed his tackle and Mason blasted his penalty down the middle.
Sweeney had Rovers’ only first-half chance when his clos- range volley from Liam Sercombe’s corner was tipped over by Doncaster keeper Ian Lawlor.
The hosts thought they had equalised four minutes from time. Lee Brown’s well-struck free-kick from 20 yards brought a brilliant fullstretch save from Lawlor.
Donny chased to keep the ball alive and eventually forced it home. But not before an eagle-eyed linesman had spotted it had crossed the byline for a corner.
That summed up a frustrating afternoon for Rovers assistant boss Marcus Stewart, in charge because manager Darrell Clarke was absent with flu.
Stewart said: “I don’t think we got the rub of the green on a number of occasions.
“It was definitely a penalty, but I thought we had equalised at the end and it must have been a very close decision that the ball had gone out of play.
“On another day that would have gone our way. The linesman was in the best position to judge and we have to trust that he got it right.
“The players huffed and puffed. There was no shortage of effort.”