VISITS TO FOOTBALL GROUNDS/MATCHES: 2ND AUGUST 2025 (Start of Football League Season).

EFL League 1: Doncaster Rovers 1v1 Exeter City

Today is the start of the Football season and Doncaster Rovers are playing host to Exeter City. Doncaster, won League 2 as champions at the end of the 2024/25 season. They begin the season in League 1 with a home match.

A cloudy but warm day saw spectators in shirt-sleeves and shorts with around 400 Exeter supporters. The combined attendance for the day is 8,688.

Doncaster in their usual red and white hooped shirts. Exeter in their change away strip of all blue.

Rovers began the match defending the South Stand.

Around 12 minutes into the game, Exeter threatened the Rovers goal with an attempt that hit the cross bar, viaa defkection from a Rovers defender. In the early exchanges Exeter took hold of the game but as time worn on, Doncaster started to take a foothold and had an attempt that flew over their opponents crossbar too.

Doncaster had a lot of the ball and appeared to be controlling the game, but a well mashalled Exeter defence kept out the Rovers attack. Halftime 0-0.

Exeter started the second half in a more positive frame and showed some attacking intent. Rovers had a couple of 'scares' but their defence held firm. Towards the end of the match that appeared to be petering-out in a 0-0 draw, there was a cross into the penalty area of Exeter and as the defender challanged to head the ball away, his flaying arm deflected the ball. Immediately, the referee blew for a penalty. Most expected a corner but a big cheer went up as the ref pointed to the spot, much to the annoyance of Exeter defenders.

Penalty to Rovers.

Once the ground had settled, and with two minutes of normal time remaining, Rovers' number seven stepped up and hammered the ball into the net. Releif was palpalble all around the ground.

GOAL!

So that was it. Donny ran the clock down by playing 'keep-ball at the Exeter corner flag. First game of a long season and three points!

RJC

END