1 April 2007 JPT Final in Cardiff-11 years ago

We were on our way to Cardiff for the JPT Final against Doncaster Rovers. Certainly a memorable grand day out and a taster for better things promotion wise just weeks later.

On 1st April 2007, Bristol Rovers played at the Millennium Stadium for the first, and quite possibly only time in the club’s history. Amid the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium, the smart stadium in the Welsh capital was being used to host domestic finals and, having progressed through the rounds of the Football League Trophy, now known as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, Rovers faced Doncaster Rovers in the final. The road there had been smooth, five games and five clean sheets. If Byron Anthony’s last-minute header to defeat Torquay United had been crucial, one of the defining moments in Rovers’ recent history had been the semi-final against local rivals Bristol City. A hard-earned goalless draw at Ashton Gate ignited belief that was justified when Lambert crashed home a twelve-yard volley 25 minutes from time at the Memorial Stadium to earn Rovers a place in the final and, more importantly in the eyes of many, secure victory in the local bragging rights for the time being. Victory over City is always sweet, yet it tastes better still when the stakes are so high.
Having not conceded a goal in 450 minutes in the tournament, Rovers took more than 37,000 supporters to Cardiff. The total crowd of 59,025 represented the fourth highest ever to watch a game featuring Rovers, but this was the highest number of “Gasheads” ever to assemble in a ground and watch their side play. The game was billed by the Doncaster Rovers side as “the friendly final” and so it was, a game brimming with excitement and epitomizing all that is good in lower league football. A goal behind to Jonathan Forte’s shot inside 45 seconds, Rovers were 2-0 down inside five minutes, as Paul Heffernan, a Rovers player in the 2009-10 season, capitalized on another uncharacteristic error. As The Kaiser Chiefs’ “Ruby” blasted across the modernistic stadium at half-time, the Pirates found themselves two goals in arrears on arguably their biggest day out for many years. Rovers were spurred into action and, roared on by their vociferous support, pulled a goal back four minutes after half-time when Walker converted a penalty following a foul on Igoe. Then Igoe himself equalised after 62 minutes, after good work from Lambert and the strains of “Goodnight Irene” reverberated around the stadium. Efforts from Lambert and Igoe went close but, unable to make their increased pressure tell, Rovers were forced into extra-time, where the game was lost to a powerful header from the Doncaster captain Graeme Lee from Sean Thornton’s left-wing corner. Nonetheless, Rovers and their huge support had done themselves proud.