WATCH - Doncaster Rovers 2 AFC Wimbledon 0: Ruthless Doncaster make no mistake

A PAIR of London boys struck to see Doncaster Rovers continue their impressive League One surge and leave AFC Wimbledon further in the mire.

First half goals from Fejiri Okenabirhie and Taylor Richards - who were both born just a few miles from Wimbledon in Hendon and Hammersmith respectively - saw Darren Moore’s side move up to fourth.

Although they lost 4-0 at Premier League West Ham in the FA Cup on Saturday, there is no doubting Doncaster’s League One form where they returned tonight to clinch a seventh victory in their last eight outings.

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Although the struggling visitors did fight valiantly and posed some threat of their own, especially given their winless run in the competition now stands at ten games, Rovers never truly looked too stretched.

Doncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie nets his side's first. (PA)Doncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie nets his side's first. (PA)
Doncaster Rovers' Fejiri Okenabirhie nets his side's first. (PA)

They started the brighter, ignoring the bitterly cold conditions to quickly get into their stride.

Doncaster were particularly threatening down their left where on-loan Elliot Simoes and the overlapping Cameron John twice created chances with rapid raids.

Neither was taken but Rovers did take the lead in the tenth minute after another crisp counter.

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This time Okdenabirhie - almost a year to the day since the club bought him from Shrewsbury Town - did make sure with a wonderful left-footed strike from around 25 yards out in the tenth minute.

Doncaster Rovers' Elliot Simoes fires in a shot. (PA)Doncaster Rovers' Elliot Simoes fires in a shot. (PA)
Doncaster Rovers' Elliot Simoes fires in a shot. (PA)

It was the 24 year-old’s tenth of the season and he continues to impress leading their line.

Despite plenty of attacking promise, Doncaster had to wait until the 37th minute to double their advantage.

Just seconds after right-back Brad Halliday rattled the bar from 25 yards out, 20-year-old Richards - dropped to the bench against the Hammers - pushed forward to fire another long-ranger which deflected wildly to beat Sam Walker.

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Having scored just once in his opening 17 games since joining on a season-long loan from Brighton, the former Manchester City midfielder has now netted three times in his last seven Rovers games.

George Dobson, who debuted at the weekend after joining from Sunderland on loan, came on for Wimbledon at the break and certainly made a difference to their play, adding some tempo.

Indeed, the midfielder had their best chance of the game although admittedly he did not seem to know too much about it as the ball almost ricocheted off him before rattling an upright in the 56th minute.

Halliday hit a well-struck free-kick that just went wide and Richards saw another effort well-saved by Walker.

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However, perhaps understandably, Doncaster did spend plenty of the second period absorbing pressure as Wimbledon - who drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture in November - tried in vain to respond.

That said, Simoes was unlucky not to make it 3-0 near the end when Walker once more made a fine save and the dangerous Halliday also came close as they set things up perfectly fpr Saturday's trip to leaders Lincoln City.

Doncaster Rovers: Balcombe; Halliday, Anderson, Butler, John; Taylor (Williams 66), Smith, James, Simoes (Wright 86); Richards (Greaves 81); Okenabirhie. Unused: Jones, Horton, Blythe, Ravenhill.

AFC Wimbledon: Walker; Johnson, Nightgale, Csoka; Alexander (McLoughlin 76), Woodyard (Oksanen 76), Rudoni (Chislett 76), Guinness-Walker, Longman; Reilly (Dobson 45), Pigott. Unused: Tzanev, Robinson, Osew.

Referee: Peter Wright

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