Pre-season friendly: Guiseley 0 Doncaster Rovers 1

A SOLITARY goal earned Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster Rovers a friendly victory at Nethermoor, despite Guiseley’s best efforts.

The visitors, who will be Sky Bet League One rivals of Bradford City following last season’s promotion, netted the all-important goal in the 18th minute.

Lions’ keeper Jonny Maxted did well to parry a long-range effort but Liam Manderville netted the rebound.

While Ferguson, a former Manchester United midfielder and son of the Premier League club’s most successful manager, has a strong connection to Old Trafford, Guiseley’s main threat to Rovers had a more tenuous link.

John Rooney’s only visits were to watch his brother Wayne, the former United and England captain who returned to Everton this close season, but the junior Rooney enjoyed a good game against Donny.

He tested Rovers’ keeper Marko Marosi early on, minutes before the visitors broke the deadlock.

Midway through the second half, Rooney shot just wide following a good move.

There was a good chance for Donny soon after but Rooney threatened from two late free-kicks.

The first was tipped over, and Reece Thompson went close from the resulting corner.

Rooney’s later set-piece, five minutes from time, flew just over the bar.

Ferguson’s Doncaster had two trialists in their starting line-up, while Guiseley had three and another two on the bench.

They also had right back Connor Brown making a second debut after he re-signed for the club last midweek, with Callum McFadzean and Kayode Odejayi on the bench waiting to make their bow.

It was Guiseley’s penultimate home friendly, and boss Adam Lockwood was relatively pleased.

He said: “We’re disappointed to lose and the goal came from a mistake, which is all part of the learning process, but late on, 80-odd minutes, I saw our players putting in good recovery runs.

“On what was a hot day, they are good signs against a Football League side.

"They got promotion last year and they’ll do well this year, I’m sure about that.

"As a manager you want your side to be tested by teams with as high quality as you can, and I hope that Doncaster also enjoyed it.

“Their fans had a good experience at our ground and I’m sure that their players were tested in a tight game.

"Right from the start of pre-season, the plan for us has been to step it up minutes wise and some got 90 in this game, so that’s another plus for us.

“People get knocks in pre-season, and we have to continually monitor that, but at this stage we’re happy with the overall fitness.”