DONCASTER ROVERS tonight seem slightly more likely to be playing Carlisle United than Yorkshire rivals Leeds should they qualify for the League One Play Off final.
Leeds were surprisingly beaten 2-1 at home tonight by the adventurous Cumbrians - their first ever win there - in a pulsating semi-final first leg.
The game was considerably more exciting than Rovers' 0-0 tie at Southend United last Friday - but that will be little consolation for
Elland Road's high-command, whose late, late goal at least gives them a fighting chance of pulling the two-leg series back their way.
A Carlisle win over both legs would be considered quite a bonus for some Rovers fans, should their own heroes get to Wembley.
One season ticket Donny fan said tonight: "Tonight's result is a real bonus. Two-nil would have been better! Playing Leeds United with their bigger fan base and history seems a much bigger obstacle, somehow, than Carlisle.
"But it will all be irrelevant if we don't beat the Shrimpers at Keepmoat stadium in our own second leg on Friday.
Carlisle took the lead through a fortunate Danny Graham deflected left footer (32 mins) before extending their lead in a powderkeg atmosphere through Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's leftie shot (50).
Leeds threw everything but the kitchen sink at Carlisle at the death and deserved a goal, Dougie Freedman squeezing one over the line in the 95th minute.
It was Carlisle goal's Keiren Westwood's only mistake of an otherwise flawless evening.
The goal sets up an interesting second leg on Thursday.
Graham said afterwards: We came out flying, played very well and we've got a one-goal lead to take back."
Gary McAllister, Leeds boss, said: "It was an exciting game, their goalie had a great match.
"This is 180 minutes, we will keep going."
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MOREClick here to send your message of support to Rovers in their play-off campaignCapacity for more: Wednesday and South Yorkshire rivals looking to lure more fans to half-empty groundsTime to change play-offs: READ JAMES SHIELD'S VIEWS ON FOOTBALL'S 'LOTTERY' Football headlines.More Blades.More Owls.More Spireites.More Rovers.More Reds.More Millers.More Ice Hockey.More rugby.More boxing.Sports columnists.All sport categories. The full article contains 404 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
