Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Accrington Stanley: Stanley give survival hopes a boost at the Keepmoat (original) (raw)

Accrington Stanley moved five points clear of the League One relegation zone with a 2-1 win at promotion-hopefuls Doncaster Rovers.

First-half goals from Sean McConville and Paul Smyth helped move John Coleman's Stanley to the brink of safety with two games to play.

Rovers had to wait until the final minute of the game for a goal, when Danny Andrew netted a consolation.

The defeat leaves Doncaster sixth, three points clear of Peterborough.

However, the Posh have a game in hand on Rovers but with an inferior points difference.

The visitors made the most of their early pressure at the Keepmoat Stadium, taking the lead in the 17th minute through McConville, who tapped in at the far post from a Smyth cross.

Smyth doubled Accrington's lead just before half-time, taking a touch before lifting the ball over Marko Marosi in the Rovers net.

Doncaster almost gifted Stanley a third in the 53rd minute as Matty Blair mistimed a header back to the keeper, nodding the ball over Marosi and on to the crossbar.

The home side continued to put pressure on the Accrington defence in the second half, with John Marquis coming close and Kieran Sadlier hitting the bar before their late goal.

Andrew pulled one back for Doncaster in the 90th minute, his deflected free-kick bouncing off Accrington's Seamus Conneely and over goalkeeper Jonny Maxted.

Sadlier also saw a last-minute strike bounce back off a post as Doncaster suffered their second successive defeat.

Report supplied by the Press Association.

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