Doncaster optimistic despite defeat

Doncaster Rovers missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Nationwide Conference this week and could lose pole position in the race for the title to Chester City or Yeovil Town tomorrow.

After thrashing last season's runners-up, Dagenham & Redbridge, 5-1 last weekend, Rovers travelled to Halifax Town in confident mood on Tuesday but surprisingly lost 2-1.

Halifax took the lead late in the first half through a Lee Clarkson header but Paul Barnes equalised before the interval. Doncaster were on top in the second period but could not score, and gifted the Shaymen a winning goal when Dean Barrick headed into his own net.

It was the first time Rovers had been beaten in the League and their manager, Dave Penney, said: "It was disappointing to lose against Halifax but we played some excellent stuff at times, as good as we've played all season."

The Conference now has only two unbeaten teams and, like Doncaster, they are former Football League clubs: Mark Wright's Chester side and Southport.

Second-placed Chester are two points adrift of Rovers, who do not play this weekend, and will overtake them if they win tomorrow at Hereford. Southport are in fourth place, a point behind Yeovil – who visit Stevenage Borough – and four adrift of Rovers. Phil Wilson's team go to lowly Telford United tomorrow and then travel to Doncaster on Tuesday.

By then Penney is hoping that his Rovers side will be back to full strength. At Halifax he was without the two centre-backs he signed this summer, Dave Morley and Steve Foster, plus his main striker Justin Jackson. "Having a free weekend will give us the chance to get a few of those back against Southport. That will be a big game for us," Penney said.