City 1, Doncaster 2

A week on and losing to such an unscripted late goal would have been a major downer for City.

Had it been Bristol City and not Doncaster benefiting from such a generous deflection four minutes from time, then this would have really hurt.

As it was, Doncaster’s fortuitous winner was no more than a very minor frustration as the phoney war draws to its conclusion.

City have one more friendly outing with a last-minute trip to Harrogate Town tomorrow but this was effectively the official lowering of the curtain before we get down to the proper stuff five days from now.

And a first pre-season defeat – however frustrating the manner at the time – should not dampen the growing enthusiasm for a long-awaited return to League One.

If anything, Saturday’s display at Valley Parade has only underlined the feeling that this City side are more than capable of holding their own among the top half of the next division.

This looked like the team that will start on day one and left back James Meredith was suitably encouraged as all eyes turn towards that opening trip to Ashton Gate.

He said: “It will test us nice and early and then we’ll know what the league’s all about. We’ll be able to gauge what we can do this season.

“Nobody is saying too much too soon. We’ve got to see what it’s like but we’re confident that we’ve got a good team and we’re all hungry to do well.

“One thing that is similar to last year is that we’re very fit and that’s a good sign going into the first ten or so games.

“We’re in the back-end of pre-season and all the long-distance running and hard work is done. Now it’s more about the fine-tuning, getting the tactics right and tweaking little pieces.

“It was a good 90-minute blow for everyone against strong opposition who knock the ball well. Doncaster have got some good players but we got in their faces.

“They got a bit lucky with the goals and it could have gone the other way very easily. But it was good to get back on the home pitch and it’s looking really nice.

“A lot of season tickets have been sold and everyone’s excited. We’ve got some really big games over the next few weeks, so hopefully we’ll do well.”

It was City’s first appearance on home soil since losing the opening play-off semi-final to Burton. How times have moved on.

The feelgood buzz among the crowd was clear and they were treated to a very entertaining encounter. The last friendly can often be a tepid affair between sides doing all they can to avoid injury – that was not the case on Saturday.

Groundsman Mick Doyle had done a great job on the pitch and provided a surface which allowed both teams to get the ball down and play.

After the rutted concrete of Bohemian and the long grass of Grimsby, it felt like a carpet and the likes of Mark Yeates could zip the passes about.

For most of the fans, this was their first sighting of the midfielder and he did not disappoint. From the moment he rolled a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Nahki Wells, you could see there is a real crowd favourite in the making.

Wells also had the bit between his teeth and centre half Rob Jones could have done with an outboard motor to keep up when the Bermudian stretched his legs.

City’s coveted striker has been full of brash exuberance in the build-up to his first taste of third-tier football. Whether it’s forecasting his own record goal tally or back-to-back promotions, he has not been backward in coming forward.

It’s whether you can back up the bold predictions with performances that separate those who can walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Wells, like the best arrogant strikers, can do both.

He was involved in all of City’s early attacking thrusts and should have had an assist when he stood up a cross at the back post for James Hanson, whose header bounced across the goalmouth.

Wells worked room for a shot of his own straight at Johnny Maxted before Doncaster drew first blood from a well-worked short corner.

The Rovers system of playing a fluid three behind targetman Chris Brown kept City on their toes with some clever movement.

And it was one of those support players, David Cotterill, who cashed in from a moment’s hesitancy to score with an angled shot.

Hanson was immediately close to an equaliser after Yeates was denied from Rory McArdle’s free-kick into the box. The loose ball dropped to Hanson but defender Tommy Spurr slid across to smother enough of the shot and send it spiralling over the bar.

Maxted preserved Doncaster’s lead early in the second half by thwarting Wells, who had anticipated Garry Thompson’s flick-on to run clear on goal.

But City’s persistence paid off with a good example of chasing down every cause. Thompson followed in Spurr’s undercooked backpass, throwing himself in the way of Maxted’s clearance and diverting the ball back over the keeper and gently into the net.

The tempo continued to pick up as both managers made changes and there were chances at either end.

Thompson was pick-pocketed outside his own box but Meredith was in the right place to clear a squirming effort from Kyle Bennett off the line.

Then Jason Kennedy, who had replaced Gary Jones just after the hour mark, smashed a thunderbolt towards the Doncaster net but one-time Bantams midfielder Dean Furman threw himself bravely in the line of fire.

Cotterill should have had his second but spooned harmlessly over the bar from 12 yards out, before Rovers got their winner with a thick wedge of good fortune.

Nathan Doyle switched to left back for Meredith in the closing stages and produced a well-timed tackle while on the floor to dispossess Bennett in the box.

But Doncaster regained the loose ball and Cotterill squared for James Coppinger to have a go. Jon McLaughlin had the shot covered but it struck Bennett instead, changing the direction completely and leaving the keeper wrong-footed.

City: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies (Nelson 76), Meredith (Ravenhill 79), Thompson, Doyle, Jones (Kennedy 61), Yeates (Reid 71), Wells (Connell 79), Hanson (Swain 86). Sub (not used): Bentley.

Doncaster: Maxted, Quinn, Jones, Khumalo, Spurr, Cotterill, Wellens (Paynter 46), Furman, Duffy (Bennett 46), Coppinger (Husband 86), Brown (Keegan 65). Subs (not used): Harper, McCullough, Adam.

Attendance: 2,850.