Doncaster Rovers' clash with Notts County at the Keepmoat Stadium this evening ended goalless, but there was plenty of drama as referee Richard Clark turned down penalty appeals for both sides and dismissed County's Kwame Thomas in strange circumstances.
In a lively game, Harry Forrester sent a long-range effort narrowly over the top of Roy Carroll's goal inside the opening three minutes, before the away side had their appeals for a penalty waved away after Nathan Tyson appeared to handle in the box.
Alan Smith then saw his powerful, 25-yard strike cannon back off the crossbar and into the back of Stephen Bywater, but luckily for the Doncaster goalkeeper the ball span out for a corner.
The home side then had their own shout for a penalty dismissed by Clark after Smith's arm seemed to get in the way of Tyson's shot.
There was more penalty drama on the stroke of half time when Clark again denied Doncaster's demands for a spot kick after James Coppinger was felled by Carroll, prompting a chorus of boos from the home supporters.
With heavy snow falling, Hayden Mullins came to the Magpies' rescue as he stretched to clear Tyson's effort off the line after the former Nottingham Forest striker had rounded Carroll.
Gary Thompson thought that he had put his side ahead only to see his effort dramatically blocked on the line, before Luke McCullough's header flew agonisingly over the bar.
Carroll made a smart double save to deny first Forrester then substitute Curtis Main as Doncaster desperately searched for a winner.
With the Magpies set on running the clock out, Thomas was then given a second yellow for leaving the field too slowly as he tried to make way for Billy Daniels.
Clark, having already aggravated the Doncaster fans, was now feeling the wrath of the away supporters too, having seemingly not realised that Thomas had already been booked.
Following a lengthy delay Thomas's dismissal stood, and Daniels was unable to enter play.
However, there was still time for Main to blow a golden opportunity to win the game when his effort deep into injury time was cleared off the line by a County defender.
The result moves Doncaster above Shaun Derry's side and into ninth place.
Joe Sharratt
