Accrington move clear of relegation zone with win at Doncaster

Accrington moved five points clear of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone with a 2-1 win at promotion-hopefuls Doncaster.

First-half goals from Sean McConville and Paul Smyth helped move Stanley to the brink of safety with two games to play.

The visitors made the most of their early pressure at the Keepmoat Stadium, taking the lead in the 17th minute through McConville, who tapped in at the far post from a Smyth cross.

Smyth doubled Accrington’s lead just before half-time, taking a touch before lifting the ball over Marko Marosi in the Rovers net.

Doncaster almost gifted Stanley a third in the 53rd minute as Matty Blair mistimed a header back to the keeper, nodding the ball over Marosi and on to the crossbar.

The home side continued to put pressure on the Accrington defence in the second half, with John Marquis coming close and Kieran Sadlier hitting the bar before their late goal.

Danny Andrew pulled one back for Doncaster in the 90th minute, his deflected free-kick bouncing off Accrington’s Seamus Conneely and over goalkeeper Jonny Maxted.

Sadlier also saw a last-minute strike bounce back off a post as Doncaster suffered their second successive defeat.