3 points in the bag

This week the Men's 4XI hosted Sheffield University Bankers in their first outing at Armthorpe School hoping to continue their winning start to the season.

From the first whistle Doncaster put pressure on the Bankers goal with the ever impressive Anthony Fearn testing the keeper early. He again had the ball in the danger zone and fired past the Bankers goalkeeper to put Doncaster ahead in the fourth minute.

Doncaster continued to press and skipper Iain McBride played the ball around we'll linking up with Matt Thorpe who went on a mazy run setting up forward Spike to double the lead after 12 minutes. From the restart Doncaster continued to press hard making the Bankers keeper earn his keep with some excellent saves but he was unable to deny Iain McBride adding to the score with a thundering strike from a penalty corner.

Three minutes later in the 17th minute Doncaster were on the defensive for the first time when the ball was shelled into the 'D' taking a deflection off Iain McBride' s stick, Ben Walton in the Doncaster goal did well to keep out the attempted own goal only for the ball to loop up to the in coming Bankers forward who volleyed into the net coolly looping the ball out of Ben's reach. This came with celebrations from the Bankers bench and a shout of 'We've doubled their goals conceded lads'

This didn't deter Doncaster who continued their onslaught of the Bankers goal only to be awarded once more before the break from another penalty corner with Iain McBride munging in celebration once again. For the final 9 minutes of the half Doncaster pounded the goal seeing some more fine saves from the opposition's keeper. At the break Doncaster held a comfortable 4-1 lead.

The second half saw Doncasters James Meek in his final outing before his return to the Army strip the ball from the Bankers forward hoping to continue his fine run of scoring within seconds of the restart but this wasn't to be on this occasions. Doncaster did have a shot within the first minute but surprisingly the ball fell to musketeer Rob Smith testing the keeper with accuracy not power!

It took Doncaster 6 minutes to add their fifth of the match when Matt Thorpe slotted home coolly to continue Doncasters fine run. In the 10th minute of the second half the ball found its way into the net once again only to be overruled by an earlier whistle. This would've made it six from an unlikely source Richard Housham (that's right Richard Housham beat the keeper). Only for his celebrations to be cut short with Richard then protesting 'Please give it to me George' (the umpire Mr Mabon).

With Doncaster still pressing hard they forced some more fine saves from the Bankers keeper before Chris Shaw added the sixth from a well worked corner.

Although now 6-1 down Bankers didn't give up enjoying their hockey and playing some lovely through balls with one resulting in a hit outside the circle. From this they worked the ball around well for a deserved second.

Bankers then pressed again hoping to break the Doncaster defence for third time but the defence spear headed by the in form Ian Ward and skip Iain McBride.

This gave the impressive Doncaster a second wind finally adding a 7th through Chris Shaw turning in a goal bound effort from Ian Ward. As with previous weeks Doncaster continued until the final whistle having 3 shots on goal in the dying seconds with the very impressive Bankers keeper denying Phil Jessop, Brad Fearn and Richard Housham in quick succession.

The final score being a well earned 7-2 win for the home side. The man of the match this week was Iain McBride with a fine brace to top a great performance leading side with inspiration. The DOD this week went to Phil Jessop after missing couple of sitters!

Next week Doncaster have a week off after Barnsley dropped out of the League with their next match coming on the 19th October at home to Chapeltown at Town Fields with a 16:30 start.