Doncaster Rovers drew 2-2 with Harrogate Town in their first pre-season friendly on Saturday. The League One side trailed 2-0 at halftime but fought back with goals from Bayley McCann and Owen Bailey to secure a draw.
What happened in the match?
Rovers struggled in the first half, with Harrogate taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Warren Burrell and Will McGowan. The visitors were outplayed, with goalkeeper Josh Clarke making several saves to keep the deficit from growing. Robbie Gotts was forced off injured just before halftime, adding to Rovers' first-half woes.
The second half saw a marked improvement from Doncaster. Bayley McCann pulled one back with a well-taken strike, and captain Owen Bailey equalized with a close-range finish. Both sides had chances to win it, but the game ended all square.
Why it matters for Doncaster Rovers
This was Grant McCann's first chance to see his new-look side in action. With Luke Molyneux expected to leave for Salford City and Jordan Thomas reportedly joining from Cheltenham Town, McCann will be looking to fine-tune his squad ahead of the new League One season. The second-half improvement will give him encouragement, though the first-half performance highlighted areas for improvement.
What comes next?
Doncaster Rovers have another pre-season friendly scheduled for this weekend. They will be looking to build on the second-half performance and address the issues that plagued them in the first half against Harrogate. The focus will also be on finalizing their squad ahead of the new season.
