Alfie May came off the bench to score his first professional goal and earn Rovers a point against promotion rivals Luton Town.
Doncaster Rovers 1 (May 80)
Luton Town 1 (Cook 54)
Saturday 18th February 2017
Sky Bet League Two
Keepmoat Stadium
It was a day to remember for Alfie May as he came off the bench to grab his first professional goal in the colours of Doncaster Rovers.
The former non-league striker raced through on goal and slotted his effort past Arsenal loanee Matt Macey in the Luton goal, to pull the game back level after Jordan Cook gave the visitors the lead after 54 minutea.
Rovers had the lion's share of possession in the first 10 minutes of the game and the hosts created the first chance when a cross from Matty Blair found the head of Tommy Rowe at the back post, but the midfielder could not force his header home.
It was Rowe again who fashioned the next attempt, Everton loanee Conor Grant played a direct ball into the path of former Peterborough United man, who shrugged off his defender before hitting a left –footed effort, which was deflected just over the crossbar by Hatters captain Scott Cuthbert.
On the 24th minute Rovers were through again, another cross from Blair on the right hand side was this time met by the head of forward Andy Williams but his effort, like Rowe’s previously, was deflected over the bar and away for a corner.
Both teams continued to work each other out, which proved to be a midfield battle for the remaining 21 minutes of the first half, with neither goalkeeper really having to make a notable save.
HALF TIME | Doncaster Rovers 0 Luton Town 0
The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts as captain James Coppinger ran through the Luton defence unchallenged before laying the ball off to Williams on the edge of the box, the former Swindon Town man could not bend his effort into the bottom right corner of Macey’s goal.
Against the run of play the Hatters took the lead, some good play from striker Danny Hylton saw him pass the ball to advancing Isaac Vassell who slipped in Jordan Cook, the former Sunderland man swept the ball into the bottom left corner of Ian Lawlor’s goal.
Rovers were back on level terms with 10 minutes of the game remaining, a knife-through-butter through ball by Grant was picked up by substitute Alfie May who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Macey to score his first goal in a Rovers shirt.
It was the other Rovers substitute who had the next chance, a clearance found the feet of Gary McSheffrey but he could not find the top corner of the goal as his effort sailed over the bar.
Harry Middleton had the final shot on goal after a Rovers corner was cleared to the edge of the box but the midfielder could not find a way past Macey in the Luton goal.
FULL TIME | Doncaster Rovers 1 Luton Town 1
ROVERS XI| lawlor, Alcock, Mason (McSheffrey 76’), Butler, Blair, Houghton (Middleton 59’), Grant, Rowe, Coppinger (C), Williams (May 72’), Marquis. ROVERS SUBS | Etheridge, Wright, Keegan, Evina.
LUTON XI | Macey, O’Donnell, Smith, Cuthbert (C), Hylton, Cook (Gambin 87’), Rea, Ruudock-Mpanzu, Vassell (Palmer 76’), Senior, Sheehan. LUTON SUBS | Moore, Marriott, Lee, D’Ath, Justin.
ATTENDANCE | 7,506 (1,619 away)