Doncaster Rovers 1 Lincoln City 0 - Ben Whiteman's stunning strike hands Rovers victory against league leaders

The midfielder broke the deadlock on 43 minutes when he latched onto a knock down and volleyed home superbly into the top corner with his left foot from 25 yards.

Both sides looked to attack, making for an entertaining game between two teams who have ambitions of becoming Championship clubs next year.

The victory saw Darren Moore's side close the gap on the top six to two points, having played a game fewer than five of the seven teams above them.

The Rovers manager spoke before the game about his side remaining mentally focused, feeling their last two defeats were down to lapses in concentration.

He would have been more than happy with the application from his players on that front, as they halted the Imps' winning run and became only the second team to beat them in league competition this term.

Moore made two changes to the side that were beaten at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night, with Danny Amos and Josh Sims replacing Brad Halliday and James Coppinger.

The Rovers manager had hoped midfield duo Madger Gomes and Taylor Richards would be fit enough to feature but neither player made the matchday squad.

Sims came off the bench after an hour in Devon but looked sharp from the off against the league leaders.

The on-loan Southampton man had Rovers' first sight of goal when he curled an effort wide of the far post and then had appeals for a penalty waved away when a header back across goal struck a Lincoln player. The hosts claimed for a handball but referee Bobby Madley disagreed.

In between those moments, Josef Bursik had to be alert at the other end when he got down well to tip the ball around the post after a Lincoln cross was directed towards goal by a home defender.

The visitors had to do without captain Liam Bridcutt, ruled out by a thigh problem, while on-loan Leeds United player Robbie Gotts was named on the bench.

The Imps found their rhythm from the kick off, moving the ball quickly up the pitch to their two wide forwards but there was little in the way of chances for a side who had won their last three games without conceding a goal.

Jorge Grant has been involved in half of Lincoln's league goals this campaign but was deployed at the base of a midfield three due to Bridcutt's absence. He has usually been found on the left of an attacking trio and had contributed six goals and one assist in eight appearances prior to kick off.

Rovers almost took the lead with just over half an hour played when a deflected shot looked to be heading past Alex Palmer but the Imps goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to stick out his left boot to keep it out.

Lincoln then countered but Bursik was alert to get his hand to a threatening cross before the ball was cleared.

Then came Whiteman's moment of magic as he fired the ball past Palmer from outside the area to give Doncaster the lead. It was the first league goal that the Imps had conceded for over 400 minutes.

The lead was almost doubled 10 minutes into the second half when Jon Taylor got in behind the Imps defence but Palmer stood up well to narrow the angle and divert the ball behind for a corner.

Sims almost had a tap in soon after when Taylor got down the right again but the ball was cut out just before it reached the Southampton loanee.

Lincoln almost made the hosts pay for those missed opportunities when substitute Theo Archibald struck the side netting with his first touch.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser but Rovers held out to claim a big three points.

Doncaster Rovers: Bursik; John, Wright, Anderson, Amos; Whiteman, Smith; Sims (Lokilo 87), Taylor (Halliday 84), James; Okenabirhie. Unused substitutes: Jones, Williams, Butler, Coppinger, Ravenhill.

Lincoln City: Palmer; Edun, Jackson, Montsma, Eyoma; McGrandles (Archibald 69), Grant, Jones; Johnson, Hopper (Soule 82), Anderson (Scully 69). Unused substitutes: Ross, Howarth, Gotts, Roughan.

Referee: Robert Madley (Wakefield).

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