Finally peeled myself off the ceiling. Hopefully I have some serotonin left for next Sunday. Thoughts on the game? I was quietly confident beforehand but as soon as they scored that confidence ebbed away and I remember thinking why we were trying to slow things down when we should have been taking the game to them. There is game management and then there is retreating into your shell! Couldn’t celebrate the penalties as I had my head in my lap only looking up to see the kicks resigning myself to another night of heartache. Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, we’re going to Wemberlee ringing in my ears all the way back to the car.
I was glancing at the scoreboard clock regularly and was really pleased that it seemed to move on by about ten minutes each time. Even the second half was going quickly. Then it hit 78 minutes and refused to move, creeping up by seconds when I could have sworn minutes had elapsed. Very strange.
I still can’t get my head around the last 24 hours. I’ve tried to start typing some post match thoughts but I’ve got nothing. All that I can say is given how much of a rollercoaster it was, I feel remarkably calm about Sunday. Maybe because the adrenaline and the euphoria of the win is still very much in my system and I had hardly any sleep after an early start, but after that, I’ve got no sense of nervousness or anxiety. Strange
also, don’t know how many of you also had this, but my legs were absolute jelly when standing watching the pens. Unbelievable what this game and this club can do to you.
One of the strangest, but also most exciting games I’ve ever been to. Clearly the packed Valley (and status as favourites) got to the players on the night; Donny knocked us out of our stride and played very well, benefitting from their pressure relieving position as underdogs with nothing to lose. We froze alarming, to the extent that Pratley replacing the far more gifted, but much less experienced Morgan, was welcomed by most.
And the penalties! Everyone in my section thought that they last penalty had gone in. We couldn’t understand why people were on the pitch. Weird numb feeling, rather than elation. I’m still getting over the disappointment of Naby’s penalty being saved. Could have been one of those great, never-to-be-forgotten moments if he’d scored!
Pleasant pre-match wine and canapés with @AFKABartram@cabbles and @SE7toSG3 augured well, with anyone expressing doubts we’d win easily heavily censured. Ha, if we’d only known!
Ended up consoling a group of Donny fans at the station. They deserved their win on the night, but over the two legs, and certainly over the whole season, we deserve our place at Wembley at very least.
They key now is to persuade the players that they are now underdogs for the final. It’s our best hope!
I hate to think what’ll happen next season if we lose.
In in the meantime I’m very anxious about not being able to buy three tickets on Monday morning :-(
I was glancing at the scoreboard clock regularly and was really pleased that it seemed to move on by about ten minutes each time. Even the second half was going quickly. Then it hit 78 minutes and refused to move, creeping up by seconds when I could have sworn minutes had elapsed. Very strange.
I was trying to do the opposite but kept catching the clock now and then thinking the longer it’s going on the more likelier they will score. When they got the corner I assumed the worst and couldn’t believe it when they scored. I was in the middle of thinking at least it won’t go to pens after Marquis scored.....
One of the strangest, but also most exciting games I’ve ever been to. Clearly the packed Valley (and status as favourites) got to the players on the night; Donny knocked us out of our stride and played very well, benefitting from their pressure relieving position as underdogs with nothing to lose. We froze alarming, to the extent that Pratley replacing the far more gifted, but much less experienced Morgan, was welcomed by most.
And the penalties! Everyone in my section thought that they last penalty had gone in. We couldn’t understand why people were on the pitch. Weird numb feeling, rather than elation. I’m still getting over the disappointment of Naby’s penalty being saved. Could have been one of those great, never-to-be-forgotten moments if he’d scored!
Pleasant pre-match wine and canapés with @AFKABartram@cabbles and @SE7toSG3 augured well, with anyone expressing doubts we’d win easily heavily censured. Ha, if we’d only known!
Ended up consoling a group of Donny fans at the station. They deserved their win on the night, but over the two legs, and certainly over the whole season, we deserve our place at Wembley at very least.
They key now is to persuade the players that they are now underdogs for the final. It’s our best hope!
I hate to think what’ll happen next season if we lose.
In in the meantime I’m very anxious about not being able to buy three tickets on Monday morning :-(
One of the strangest, but also most exciting games I’ve ever been to. Clearly the packed Valley (and status as favourites) got to the players on the night; Donny knocked us out of our stride and played very well, benefitting from their pressure relieving position as underdogs with nothing to lose. We froze alarming, to the extent that Pratley replacing the far more gifted, but much less experienced Morgan, was welcomed by most.
And the penalties! Everyone in my section thought that they last penalty had gone in. We couldn’t understand why people were on the pitch. Weird numb feeling, rather than elation. I’m still getting over the disappointment of Naby’s penalty being saved. Could have been one of those great, never-to-be-forgotten moments if he’d scored!
Pleasant pre-match wine and canapés with @AFKABartram@cabbles and @SE7toSG3 augured well, with anyone expressing doubts we’d win easily heavily censured. Ha, if we’d only known!
Ended up consoling a group of Donny fans at the station. They deserved their win on the night, but over the two legs, and certainly over the whole season, we deserve our place at Wembley at very least.
They key now is to persuade the players that they are now underdogs for the final. It’s our best hope!
I hate to think what’ll happen next season if we lose.
In in the meantime I’m very anxious about not being able to buy three tickets on Monday morning :-(
Haven't been on this thread as I just wanted to really enjoy the emotions and the incredible team. It's also because I want to go through the reactions of everyone on here. Wow, Friday night was unbelievable!
We played poorly in general and looked nervous, showing them maybe too much respect after we scored, maybe a sense of complacency came in too. But we must attack this final like we never have before. It's a one off game where I am confident if the players stick together, work as they have done this season, then on the big Wembley pitch, our quality will shine through.
I love this group of players and staff. We have something special and even more so with how us supporters have been this season too. Absolutely incredible. So happy and can't wait for next Sunday!
Up there with 1998 for emotions. After Marquis had scored Golfie Jnr was almost in tears as he thought the game had gone. Cue 30 mins later when they missed their 5th pen & the lad was almost in tears again.....but for the right reasons.
He so much wanted to go to Wembley & now he can. Orderd tickets & he is looking forward to next weekend. Has the 2nd paper of his English GCSE on Thursday so it will be a great way for him to celebrate once that's out of the way.
Nothing else to be said about the game itself. We played poorly but got away with it as we won the 1st leg. It's done & dusted now. Onwards to 7 days time.
I actually can't stop thinking about the game. Will just be walking about and think of how deflated I was when I thought they had scored the winner and then Pratley just restores all faith moments later.
Late to comment but what a night, happy, to worry, to despair, to absolute joy at then end when I got talked in to running on the pitch to celebrate.
Amazing effort and noise from our fans, especially the penalties, what it must have been like to be one of those Doncaster players walking up to the spot surrounded by that and thankfully for us it worked.
I did not get home until 04:30 and even then struggled to sleep as I was still pumped up, nights like that are what keeps you going as a fan of a normal club.
Don't care if he was rubbish, he wasn't alone, Naby is part of what got us here and I love him for it. He looked so nervous before the pens. But I'd put money right now on him being MOTM at Wembley. Class persists.
Worth a mention that Naby is Muslim and as it's Ramadan he'd not eaten or drunk anything all day. On that basis his performance was heroic. He wasn't terrible anyway.
Great scenes after, and at London Bridge, Donny played well but inaging that journey home for them now, brilliant night and one I will remember for years to come...get in!
Comments
what a night indeed the atmosphere reminded me of the good old days, a very special evening.
A big thank you to the players and playing staff but in particular Lee and Jacko for making an old man and his Grandson ecstatically happy.
also, don’t know how many of you also had this, but my legs were absolute jelly when standing watching the pens. Unbelievable what this game and this club can do to you.
Donny knocked us out of our stride and played very well, benefitting from their pressure relieving position as underdogs with nothing to lose.
We froze alarming, to the extent that Pratley replacing the far more gifted, but much less experienced Morgan, was welcomed by most.
And the penalties! Everyone in my section thought that they last penalty had gone in. We couldn’t understand why people were on the pitch. Weird numb feeling, rather than elation. I’m still getting over the disappointment of Naby’s penalty being saved. Could have been one of those great, never-to-be-forgotten moments if he’d scored!
Pleasant pre-match wine and canapés with @AFKABartram @cabbles and @SE7toSG3 augured well, with anyone expressing doubts we’d win easily heavily censured. Ha, if we’d only known!
Ended up consoling a group of Donny fans at the station. They deserved their win on the night, but over the two legs, and certainly over the whole season, we deserve our place at Wembley at very least.
They key now is to persuade the players that they are now underdogs for the final. It’s our best hope!
I hate to think what’ll happen next season if we lose.
In in the meantime I’m very anxious about not being able to buy three tickets on Monday morning :-(
We played poorly in general and looked nervous, showing them maybe too much respect after we scored, maybe a sense of complacency came in too. But we must attack this final like we never have before. It's a one off game where I am confident if the players stick together, work as they have done this season, then on the big Wembley pitch, our quality will shine through.
I love this group of players and staff. We have something special and even more so with how us supporters have been this season too. Absolutely incredible. So happy and can't wait for next Sunday!
Oh what a night
Amazing effort and noise from our fans, especially the penalties, what it must have been like to be one of those Doncaster players walking up to the spot surrounded by that and thankfully for us it worked.
I did not get home until 04:30 and even then struggled to sleep as I was still pumped up, nights like that are what keeps you going as a fan of a normal club.