Swindon found themselves sitting in the relegation places after a 1-0 defeat at home to Fleetwood on Saturday and were looking to secure our first win since victory over Oxford in November.
A second-half brace from Reece James was enough to put the game beyond reach despite an injury-time penalty scored by Diallang Jaiyesimi.
First-half:
It was Swindon who got the first shot of the game away within thirty seconds when Jack Payne linked up well with Jaiyesmi on the edge of the Doncaster box - Payne got a left footed strike away, but it was comfortable for Joe Lumley.
The next fifteen minutes was very much a case of the home side passing around the back four to which Town replied with a simple response, letting them keep possession in their defensive third.
Payne again managed to find a pocket of space in a crowded area to get another shot away but it bounced around the Doncaster box in pinball fashion and cleared from danger.
Just after the half-hour mark, Town had a glorious chance to take the lead with Skipper Dion Conroy’s cute pass found Jaiyesimi with his back to goal. The striker laid the ball out to an onrushing Jonny Smith, but his curled effort was just too high and went over the bar.
Doncaster started to press a bit more in the latter stages of the half and were nearly rewarded had it not been for our number one. Danny Amos picked up a loose clearance and tried his luck from twenty-five yards - Kovar outstretched tipped the shot out for a goal kick.
Second-half:
After a defensively sound first forty-five minutes, Town were undone pretty much straight away when a loose pass was picked up and Reece James was played in on goal. Kovar got a foot to the shot but it wasn’t enough to keep the strike out.
Jaiyesimi went close to levelling things up after Jonny Smith drove at the Doncaster full-back Halliday, cutting a low cross in but Jaiyesimi’s diverted effort was saved by Lumley.
Ten minutes later, James got his second of the match when he found space in behind the back line, slotting under Kovar to make it 2-0.
Following the introduction of Jordan Stevens, the Leeds loanee got one back for Town after a brilliant through pass by Matt Smith, but the assistant referee raised his flag and the goal was disallowed.
With six minutes to play, Town went close again. This time Akin Odimayo cutting a ball back from the byline. Although destined for the head of substitute Tyler Smith, Lumley managed to get a glove on it and tipped it away from danger.
Deep into injury-time, Jaiyesimi was fouled inside the Doncaster penalty area and referee Paul Howard pointed to the spot. The victim of the tackle converted the spot-kick to get Town on the board but it was too little too late and the night ended in defeat.
We host Charlton Athletic on Saturday in another tough fixture, although it will again be in front of fans at the County Ground.
