Doncaster Rovers 3 Oxford United 2 - Clinical display takes Darren Moore's men to within touching distance of top spot

Darren Moore's team were second best for long period's of Saturday's contest, but showed a clinical edge in front of goal, scoring with their only three shots on target during the course of the afternoon.

In what was a showdown between the division's two form teams, the hosts started and finished the game under serious pressure, demonstrating that they are not just a good footballing side as they dug deep to record what was their ninth success in 10 matches.

An eventual outcome where Rovers finished the day with both three points and three goals to their name seemed extremely unlikely given the way that the opening half an hour unfolded.

Moore's men couldn't escape their own territory for a good 20 minutes, with Oxford dominating the ball and asking plenty of questions of the home defence.

But, aside from two routine saves from an Elliott Moore header and Joe Ruffels' long-range effort, Doncaster custodian Ellery Balcombe was rarely tested.

That the deadlock was broken on 31 minutes by a player in red and white still came as something as a surprise, however.

Matt Smith won the ball in the centre of the park and displayed great vision and a lovely weight of pass to release Jon Taylor down the right.

United had numbers between the home winger and their goal, but could not prevent him from gliding inside and beating Jack Stevens at his near post.

Boosted by their breakthrough, Rovers began to enjoy a little more of the ball as half-time approached, but the Yellows continued to probe away and got their reward in the 41st minute.

Balcombe did well to push away Elliot Lee's initial blast, however right-back Sam Long was first to react inside the penalty area, planting the ball into the unguarded net.

It would have been hard to make an argument that the visitors did not deserve to go into the interval on level terms, and doubtless United boss Carl Robinson will simply have asked for more of the same from his charges after the break.

But they found themselves trailing once again almost immediately from the re-start as Taylor Richards suddenly came to life.

The Brighton & Hove Albion loanee had looked rather disinterested during the opening period, only to showcase the undoubted quality he possesses with two key contributions in the space of four second-half minutes.

First, he was involved in a one-two with Fejiri Okhenabirhie, that saw him send the latter in behind down the right, Rovers' number nine then showing a touch of class to place a finish across Stevens and inside the far post.

Richards then took centre stage himself, picking up a lay-off from Okenabirhie, nutmegging one defender, dancing past another before directing an expert low strike through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner.

Oxford looked shell-shocked at this point, but they didn't come into the game having won nine in a row in all competitions through sheer luck, and climbed up off the canvas to have a really good go in the final 20 minutes.

They got back in the contest when Ruffels fed substitute Olamide Shodipo, who shot from the edge of the box and saw a deflection take the ball past Balcombe for 3-2.

Only a superb last-ditch block by Doncaster captain Tom Anderson denied Lee what looked a certain equaliser moments later, and there were more nervy moments to come as the Yellows continued to turn the screw.

The visitors were sure they should have had a penalty on 77 minutes when Shodipo went down inside the box, however referee James Bell was not interested.

And although United delivered some dangerous balls into the home area, seven minutes of added-time came and went with Rovers' narrow lead still intact.

Victory leaves Moore's troops level on points with second-placed Hull City having played three games less, and just three shy of leaders Lincoln City.

Doncaster Rovers: Balcombe; Halliday, Anderson, Butler, John; Smith, Gomes (Wright 77); Taylor (Lokilo 77), Richards (Robertson 57), James; Okenabirhie (Bostock 89). Unused substitutes: Jones, Simoes, Greaves.

Oxford United: Stevens; Long, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels; Henry, Gorrin (Kelly 78), Brannagan; Lee (Sykes 78), Taylor (Winnall 78), Barker (Shodipo 46). Unused substitutes: Eastwood, Forde, Grayson.

Referee: J Bell (Sheffield).