Promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers produced a thrilling late show to see off 10-man Cheltenham Town 2-0, with goals from Jamie Sterry and Rob Street in the dying moments handing them a vital three points at Whaddon Road.
In a cagey match dominated by missed chances and tight margins, it took until the final minutes for Doncaster to make their pressure count—capitalising on a numerical advantage after Tim Dieng’s dismissal early in the second half.
Cheltenham, who had not lost at home in their previous three, started brightly. Dieng was involved early, glancing Tom Bradbury’s delivery wide in just the fifth minute. But the visitors responded well, Bailey’s header cleared off the line and Jordan Gibson curling wide from a promising position.
Both sides traded blows before half-time, with Jordan Thomas drilling just past the post for the hosts, while Doncaster continued to test Joe Day’s handling from range.
Turning point and late reward
The momentum swung on 56 minutes when Dieng, already on a yellow card, clipped Jack Senior and was sent off. Cheltenham reshaped defensively, but the space began to open up. Within a minute, Gibson hit the crossbar with a powerful strike, and the sense of an inevitable breakthrough grew.
Doncaster poured forward, Molyneux twice going close. Joe Ironside had a golden chance from close range after being set up by Molyneux but couldn’t convert, and it seemed like the breakthrough might never come.
But in the 89th minute, patience paid off. Molyneux danced down the left and squared for Sterry, who took one touch before rifling a shot beyond Day into the far corner.
The points were sealed deep into added time. Street, once on the books at Cheltenham, reacted quickest after Day parried an effort into his path, calmly slotting into the net to ensure a triumphant return to Gloucestershire.
The win means Doncaster remain in the thick of the title hunt with only a handful of games left to play. For Cheltenham, who offered moments of promise even with 10 men, it was a cruel end after a determined display.
Site opinion
This is the kind of win that defines a promotion campaign. Doncaster kept their composure, used their substitutes wisely, and turned late pressure into goals. Cheltenham made life difficult, even after the red card, but couldn’t keep the door shut forever. For Street, the goal was poetic; for Doncaster, the timing couldn’t be better. With momentum firmly on their side, Grant McCann’s team look every inch like a side ready for the step up.
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