A dull, wet and showery afternoon on the Devon coast greeted the Rovers upon their arrival at Home Park to play Plymouth Argyle. For the Rovers, Jason Shackell is out with an ankle injury, James O'Connor replacing him in the centre of defence. For the home team, Carl Fletcher is suspended so Rory Fallon comes in. The Rovers sealed their place in the Championship in April with a 3-0 win at this ground and so far this season the Pilgrims have won once at home, against Scunthorpe United.

The home team got the game underway but the Rovers were soon on the attack down their left when Roberts received in the opposition half, gave to Sharp, who supplied Woods with the ball to fire over from 20yards. Minutes later Woods put a free kick from the right of the Plymouth penalty area into the side netting. As ten minutes came up the home team found their feet and forced successive corners without reward. Sharp was then played through on goal and appeared to be pulled back by Lowry but the referee waved play on and the chance was lost. After 16minutes, Sharp, on the left of the Plymouth penalty area, had a go from 15yards that Larrieu, in the Plymouth goal, had to go full length to his left to push away. Three minutes later, following a corner, the home team had a chance in front of goal when their man was one-on-one with Sullivan, who was equal to the task and blocked the ball. On 24 minutes, Judge, on the Plymouth right received the ball but hit it into the side net from 20yards. Two minutes later, the Rovers lost the ball just inside their own half on the right. This set Plymouth on the attack down their left through Gow, who hit a low cross from the byline into the middle where it was met by the oncoming JUDGE to hammer in from 2yards for the first goal. The lead stood for just two minutes for after 28minutes, the Rovers were awarded a free kick on the left touchline halfway in the Plymouth half. Woods put the kick into the penalty area but it was only cleared to SHIELS 15yards out. His first shot was blocked but gathering the rebound he hit it hard and low just inside the near post. Just past the half hour and during a melee in the Rovers goalmouth O'Connor appeared to handle as he fell when the ball was hit against him but the referee, well placed, waved play on despite protests from the Plymouth played and fans. At the other end Sharp put wide from a Shiels cross from the right. Minutes later, Oster fed Shiels on the Rovers right but his cross went begging when it flashed across the front of goal with nobody getting a touch. As time ran down to the break, the Pilgrims attacked time and again but only gained three corners, which brought no reward although leading up to the second corner Judge had a clear sight of goal from 5yards but Chambers got his body in the way to give the corner.

Half time - Plymouth Argyle 2 DONCASTER ROVERS 1

Although the Rovers kicked off it was Plymouth who went on the attack forcing a corner after three minutes, which was cleared. However, after 50 minutes, the Rovers received a nasty shock when the captain, Woods, received a second booking for a foul on Arnason and was subsequently dismissed from the game. Three minutes later and Sharp, on the Rovers left, played Coppinger into the penalty area for him to hit a low shot that Larrieu could only tip round the post. Minutes later at the other end, a corner reached Mackie at the far post but Sullivan saved his shot. Past the hour and Mackie put an effort from 25yards high and wide. Then the home team went down their right with Judge, who put a good cross to the far post where Duguid headed wide from close range. Then Oster, for the Rovers, from the left, tried to curl a shot into the top far corner but was just wide. Then, good combination by Sharp and Gillett gave Sharp a shot from the right that went across the face of goal and just past the far post. On 72 minutes, an attack down the home left brought two blocks from the Rovers defenders but the ball wasn't cleared dropping for FALLON to hammer in from 12yards. A corner followed to the home side that Fallon, at the far post, lobbed back into the middle for Sawyer to head wide from 3yards in front of goal. Minutes later, Duguid put high and wide from 30yards. The Rovers then made a series of substitutions as they put everything into trying for at least an equaliser in the pouring rain but try as they might they couldn't get that vital break although it wasn't for the lack of trying. The Plymouth defence were hard pressed at times in those final fifteen minutes to contain the irrepressible Sharp as Oster, Coppinger and Chambers prompted from the midfield. It wasn't to be, however, as the final whistle blew on a win for the Argyle that puts them level on points with the Rovers but with an inferior goal difference.

Full time - Plymouth Argyle 2 DONCASTER ROVERS 1

Teams - Plymouth Argyle - Romain Larrieu; David Gray, Karl Arnason,Shane Lowry, Gary Sawyer; Karl Duguid, Rory Fallon, Yoann Folly, Alan Judge; Jamie Mackie, Alan Gow

Subs used  - Craig Noone for Gow 69mins; Chris Clark for Judge 83mins;

Subs not used - Jim Paterson, Krisztian Timar, Cillian Sheridan, Ashley Barnes, Kyle Letheren gk

Caution - Mackie

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Sam Hird, James O'Connor, Gareth Roberts; John Oster, Simon Gillett, Dean Shiels, Martin Woods; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp

Subs used - Paul Heffernan for Roberts 77mins; John Spicer for Gillett 77mins; Lewis Guy for Shiels 82mins;

Subs not used - James Hayter, Quinton Fortune, Mustapha Dumbuya, Gary Woods gk

Cautions - Woods, Woods

Sent off - Woods 50mins

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