Huddersfield Town 1 Doncaster Rovers 1 (0-2 pens): Terriers endure hellish penalty shoot-out as keeper is Rovers' hero

These two reconvene at the Eco-Power Stadium next Tuesday evening for a League One appointment that possesses meaning for both clubs in their respective missions at contrasting ends of the table.

On Saturday week, Town host a Yorkshire opponent in Barnsley, while Rovers face a huge relegation six-pointer at their arch-rivals Rotherham United.

This particular all-White Rose affair may not have been as consequential - and the attendance certainly reflected this with just two sides of the Accu Stadium being open.

But victory for either would put them into a semi final and within a win of Wembley nevertheless, which is surely something not to be sniffed at. And who doesn’t want a day out at the home of football in early spring?

Those Rovers diehards who travelled to West Yorkshire were singing about it after Billy Sharp was afforded a belated birthday present. He turned 40 last week.

The goal veteran has taken a liking for the Trophy so far this season and was presented with a gift from the spot on 35 minutes. More about penalties later. Much more.

Captain-for-the-night Murray Wallace was high and clumsy on Tom Nixon as he threatened to break away in the box and his resigned expression said it all. Sharp confidently fired home his sixth goal in this season’s competition.

A young lad half Sharp’s age doesn’t mind the much-derided Trophy either.

After scoring in the win over the Millers in the previous round, substitute Cam Ashia drew Town level early in the second period - and followed up his goal on home soil three days earlier with another strike from the bench.

The real drama would arrive from penalties in a remarkable shoot-out and what will be an infamous and forgettable one for Town.

Thimothee Lo-Tutala, whose second coming at Rovers has been difficult, made amends for Ashia’s shot squirming past him in regulation time in supreme fashion.

He made saves to deny Alfie May, Lasse Sorensen and Dion Charles, while Antony Evans - Town’s fourth taker - saw his effort rattle the woodwork.

Rovers actually missed their first attempt, with Luke Molyneux denied, but Ben Close and Robbie Gotts kept their cool as the visitors prevailed 2-0.

Town made eight changes from the weekend, with Bobby Wales handed a first start while May, halfway through a four-match league ban, lined up from the off against his former club.

The final game of May’s League One suspension comes in next Tuesday’s third-tier appointment in Doncaster.

Wallace, Josh Feeney and Marcus McGuane were the only survivors from the Town side who took the field at kick-off against Blackpool, with Alnwick given his bow in goal.

Sean Roughan made his return from injury, with Evans named on the substitutes’ bench.

As has been the way in this competition so far in 2025-26, it was all change for Grant McCann with Lo-Tutala being the only Rovers player who started in Saturday’s grim loss at Wycombe.

January signing Darren Robinson was afforded just a second start since joining the club, with Matty Pearson starting against his old employers following his move last summer.

Both sides had scored plenty of goals in their Trophy journeys so far this term - 14 and 16 respectively in their five matches. It hinted at a high-scoring affair before kick-off, but the first-half evidence dispelled that.

There was energy, commitment and a good press selection from both sides. Clear-cut chances were harder to come by.

When the breakthrough came, it was a Rovers one, out of the blue really courtesy of Wallace’s indiscretion. Sharp is not the sort to pass up such an opportunity from 12 yards and didn’t, sending Alnwick the wrong way.

Town actually had the better of the first half, but found themselves in arrears.

May almost profited from Sean Grehan’s early error, but the alert Lo-Tutala raced out to save the day.

Persistence from Mickel Miller later set up Wales. His low shot was tame and easy for Lo-Tutala, before Miller hooked over after bursting to the far post after good work by Will Alves on the right.

Alves, excellent in the Trophy win over Rotherham, provided a highlight following a fine surging run which ended in him firing wide. Soon after, Sharp struck.

Rovers started the second half well and spurned a big chance to double their money after McGuane was dispossessed too easily by George Broadbent.

He found Glenn Middleton, who threaded the ball inside to Close, but he fired wastefully over.

It proved a big moment.

Town broke and Ashia beat Grehan too easily down the right and events were compounded by Lo-Tutala making an unconvincing attempt to save the low shot, which crept under him.

Middleton’s free-kick flew into the side-netting at the other end.

Lo-Tutala performed better to tip over two efforts from Alves.

Most of the action was towards Doncaster’s goal. Yet it was still anyone’s game.

Kasumu showed adventure before firing just wide before Sorensen surged inside from the right and saw his drive deflect just off target.

The chances continued with the lively Alves going close and Evans’ free-kick flying just over on his first-team return. At the other end, Molyneux blazed over before Lo-Tutala made a splendid tip-over to deny May.

And then the fun and games really began.

Huddersfield Town: Alnwick; Feeney, Wallace, Roughan (Mumba 65); Sorensen, Kasumu (Evans 74), McGuane (Humphreys 64), Miller (Ashia HT); Alves, May; Wales (Charles 74). Substitutes unused: Tzanev, Balker.

Doncaster Rovers: Lo-Tutala; Nixon, Grehan, Pearson, Maxwell; Close; Middleton (Molyneux 64), Broadbent (Bailey 64), Robinson (Gotts 64), Gibson (Adelakun 80); Sharp (Hanlan 80). Substitutes unused: Oram, McGrath.

Referee: T Reeves (Warwicks)