The Albion’s poor Withdean form continued this weekend with a dreadful 2-0 defeat at home to Doncaster. Goals from Graeme Lee and former Premiership striker Danny Cadamarteri sending the Yorkshire side home with the three points.

 

Brighton: Flinders, Rehman, Lynch, Elphick, Mayo, Bertin (Elder 70), El-Abd (Fraser 46), Frutos, Loft, Savage, Revell (Robinson 51).
Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Cox.

Booked: Loft, Bertin.

Doncaster: Sullivan, O’Connor, Worley, Lee, Gareth Roberts, Wilson, Stock, Guy (Coppinger 77), Cadamarteri (Dyer 85), Thornton, Heffernan (Paul Green 76).
Subs Not Used: Forte, Hird.

Booked: Thornton, Heffernan.

Goals: Lee 28, Cadamarteri 47.

Att: 6,267.

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).
Dean Wilkins took the opportunity to rest some of his first team regulars and give some of the fringe players the chance to prove their worth and earn them a contract for next season. Alex Frutos, Doug Loft and Tommy Elphick came in for Guy Butters, Dean Cox and Jake Robinson.

Picking up from where they left off in their last outing at Withdean, the similarly poor performance in the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield, the Seagulls were appalling throughout. Passes were going astray, the defence looked shaky and as an attacking force Albion didn’t really create a decent clear cut chance all afternoon.

After dominating the early play the visitors took the lead on 28 minutes. Brian Stock crossed following a short corner to find Doncaster captain Graeme Lee unmarked in the middle to head home past Scott Flinders and Bas Savage on the line.

The lead was extended a few minutes into the second half. Paul Heffernan split the Albion defence with a pinpoint through ball which found Cadamateri who calmly slotted the ball past Flinders who was perhaps a little slow off his line.

But saying that Flinders was probably one of the few Albion players to come out of the game with any credit after two great saves late on to keep the score respectable.

The on loan Crystal Palace keeper denying James Coppinger when he was through one-on-one and Flinders also denied Cadamateri a second goal late on. 

So another forgettable Withdean afternoon in what has been a miserable season for the Albion’s home faithful. Thankfully Monday’s trip to Tranmere is away from our cursed home and the Seagulls will be looking to continue their impressive away form.

Added on Sunday, April 8th, 2007 at 4:52 pm under Match reports by Wilka.