Doncaster Rovers 4-3 Scunthorpe United
Report from the Keepmoat Stadium

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Former Iron loanee Shelton Martis scored a late winner to settle a thrilling game with Doncaster Rovers, who saw off United 4-3 at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday.

Gary Hooper put Scunthorpe ahead early in the first half but Rovers soon levelled through Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

The hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Jordan Mutch fired home, but Scunthorpe levelled early in the second period through Paul Hayes' effort.

James Hayter scored at around the hour mark though to seemingly seal an enthralling derby, but there was still time for Hooper to hit a late leveller.

Nevertheless, after Hooper was inches away from hammering home the winner, Martis bundled in from close range in the 90th minute to settle the game for Rovers.

The Iron entered the match making one change from the side which drew 2-2 with Reading in midweek.

Kenny Milne returned to the team in place of Niall Canavan after being rested against the Royals.

Joe Murphy started in goal, with captain Cliff Byrne, David Mirfin, Milne and Andrew Wright forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Garry Thompson, Matt Sparrow, Grant McCann and Martyn Woolford, while Hayes partnered Hooper up front.

The substitutes were Josh Lillis, Canavan, Sam Togwell, Michael O'Connor, Josh Wright, Jonathan Forte and Donal McDermott.

It was a sunny day at the Keepmoat Stadium with a light breeze taking away most of the heat, making the conditions near-perfect for an entertaining afternoon of football.

Wearing their sky blue away strip for the final time, the Iron kicked off attacking the end which contained a large number of home fans and the game got off to a frenetic start.

Neither side was getting on top though with them appearing evenly matched in the opening ten minutes. Rovers had the first chance of the game but Mutch's strike cleared the crossbar.

Then, just two minutes later, they came even closer as James Coppinger's curling effort from the left almost beat Murphy at his left-hand post as it was whipped across goal but went narrowly wide.

The visitors were trying to find their way into the game but Byrne's clever pass through to Hayes was ran out by the striker.

Woolford came very close in the 16th minute though as he fired a low effort just wide of goal - hitting the outside of the woodwork - from 25 yards out after being teed up by Hooper.

Just a minute later Murphy was called into action again, beating away Martis' strike after Coppinger's free-kick from the left was only half-cleared.

And they were to regret that miss as Hooper put the Iron ahead in the 20th minute. He latched on to Hayes' flick-on and calmly placed the ball past Neil Sullivan, who got a touch but couldn't keep the ball out. The striker celebrated his 19th goal of the season in all competitions and it was a classic Hayes-Hooper combination goal.

Rovers levelled though just three minutes later as Emmanuel-Thomas found himself in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area and looped a volleyed effort over Murphy from just inside the area.

The hosts had a head of steam at this point, and Brian Stock's long range strike drew a decent stop from Murphy.

Doncaster continued their dominance at this point and Hayter headed just wide of goal in the 27th minute after getting on the end of Coppinger's cross from the left.

For a spell after that though, they didn't test United as much and they seemed to weather the storm.

It was in the 38th minute when they came close again, as Mutch worked his way into space after receiving a pass from Coppinger and curled a strike just wide from the edge of the area.

Scunthorpe had a great chance moments after though as McCann flicked Woolford through who advanced into the area down the right but saw his low cross blocked out for a corner just before Hayes could get a touch on it to turn the ball into the net.

Just before half-time, Emmanuel-Thomas came close again - curling in a low shot which Murphy had to dive down low to tip around the post to his right.

And seconds later they did take the lead - as Gareth Roberts' curling cross reached Mutch in the penalty area and he sent the ball past Murphy to give Rovers the lead in first half stoppage time.

The Iron made one change at half-time, with Togwell replacing Mirfin. Usually deployed in midfield, he slotted in at right-back with Byrne moving to central defence.

The visiting team's first chance of the second half arrived three minutes in when Hooper laid the ball off to Hayes, whose stinging volley cleared the crossbar.

In the 53rd minute the Iron were level as Hayes capitalised on a defensive slip by Martis to latch on to Woolford's powerful header, advance on goal and poke the ball past Sullivan to celebrate his 13th goal of the season in front of the travelling contingent of Scunthorpe fans.

Nevertheless, Doncaster went ahead for the second time when clever link-up play between Hayter and Emmanuel-Thomas saw the latter play the former through, and the former Bournemouth man's shot went in off the post

Clever play from Emmanuel-Thomas again soon after played in Mutch, whose drilled effort from the right was header wide of his own goal by Milne.

16 minutes into the second period, Josh Wright replaced Martyn Woolford as the Iron introduced fresh legs into the midfield.

And he almost made an instant impact, winning the ball on the edge of the box and playing it to Hayes, who fired a low strike just wide of Sullivan's bottom right-hand post.

Then, not long after, McCann curled a free-kick just over the crossbar as the away team looked to equalise.

Scunthorpe continued to attack, and Thompson sent a half-volley just wide after Hooper flicked the ball on.

Forte was introduced into the fray, coming on for Thompson shortly after.

The hosts wasted a great chance to make it four on 78 minutes, as Paul Heffernan blasted over from close range after a neat passing move around the Iron's 18-yard box by Rovers.

Forte then turned on the edge of the area to send in a great low effort which Sullivan tipped wide of his bottom right-hand post.

He then smacked the underside of the crossbar with a superb shot from the edge of the area with six minutes to go, but Hooper levelled the scores instantly after that.

The marksman hit the back of the net from just inside the area, using his predatory instinct to poach home, after Forte's flick, his 20th strike of the season after Rovers failed to clear.

Hooper could hagve sensationally won the game in the 88th minute, hut he drove just wide of goal after Hayes had flicked him through.

Murphy then denied Heffernan's stinging shot from close range, as the former Notts County man proved the hosts were still capable of finding that winning goal.

And it did come, as former Iron loanee Martis powered a looping header home from close range from a corner.

Murphy pulled off a string of late saves to keep the score down, with Doncaster running out eventual 4-3 winners.

The Iron have one more game to play, and that comes at home to Nottingham Forest next Sunday (1.00pm kick-off).

Attendance: 12,214 (1,980 away)