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After the overnight and morning rain, the afternoon dawned fine, mild and sunny, although, with the clocks going back last night it will be dark before the end of the game. The visitors to the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon were top of the table, before yesterday, Leyton Orient, who have set the pace so far this season. Included in their team are a couple of ex Rovers players, Stuart Nelson and JJ Melligan, who spent nearly a full season on loan at Belle Vue whilst helping the Rovers gain promotion to League 1. Unfortunately, another former Rovers favourite, Sean Thornton, is missing from their line-up because of suspension, having recently got himself sent off. The Rovers made two changes from the last League match against Nottingham Forest. Gordon Greer drops to the bench and James Coppinger is out with a virus. Gareth Roberts and Lewis Guy replaced them. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

The visitors set the ball in motion and it was game on. but it was a cagey early minutes with both sides wary of each other. The Rovers won a couple of corners in the early minutes and the O's followed suit on ten minutes, having seen Terry fire over from the edge of the Rovers penalty area a couple of minutes earlier. Both keepers had been in action but only to field the ball. The next ten minutes saw the visitors have more of the play as they showed their football skills. Melligan had a 30 yard bouncer saved by Sullivan then, on 20 minutes, Purches got away down the Leyton right and put over a great cross for Demetriou, running in but he only managed to stretch a leg out and touch the ball out of play. But that was the best chance yet. Two minutes later and McDaid at the other end fired in a 30yarder that hit the top of the bar on it's way to the Stand. The next period of the game was scrappy in the extreme, with neither side able to get going with any degree of fluency. Play was mostly in midfield but each side cancelled each other out. The only time either keeper was troubled came on 41 minutes when Ibehre fired in a thunderous shot from out on the Orient left that Sullivan had to save. As hhalf-time came up Saah headed over from a corner for the O's. The break came with the game still scoreless but the O's did not belie their position at the top as regards possession of the ball, with the Rovers struggling to get and keep possession.

The Rovers made a change for the second half, with Jason Price being introduced to the fray in place of McDaid. The Rovers immediately showed their intentions and began to play football as we know they can. Pushing the Orient back on the defensive they received their reward on 52 minutes when, following a free kick on their left, WELLENS eventually won the ball in a melee in the six yard box and fired into the net. The Orient, struggling to get into the game, produced a well worked move after 56 minutes that ended with IBEHRE just having to tap the ball over the goal-line for an equaliser to the O's. Back came the Rovers, showing more authority on the ball than in the first half. Wellens fired over from the edge of the penalty area and Wilson had a shot blocked but the Orient weren't going to let the Rovers have it all their own way and battled back. We had a real game on our hands now. On 68 minutes, PURCHES cut in from the right and got to the edge of the six yards and drilled a low shot past Mills and Sullivan. How it got through is anybody's guess. The responce was immediate from the home team. Guy, on the Rovers left, won a ball he shouldn't have off Purches and gave to PRICE ten yards from goal. He turned his marker brilliantly and lashed into the net for an equaliser after 70 minutes. The Rovers were now on a roll as Hayter shot wide after a good move although two corners came to nothing. Hayter shot into the net on 77 minutes but the referee had blown for a foul. On 82 minutes, the Rovers were awarded a free kick on their left which found Green totally unmarked on the far post. He fired in but Nelson beat the ball down and in the ensuing melee HAYTER was able to execute a great overhead kick into the top corner. This time the Rovers were able to consolidate their lead and it was no surprise when WELLENS finished off a great move by turning inside Saah and firing in left footed from 16 yards for a fourth goal that finally killed off the challenge of the Orient.

After a sterile first half the second produced the goods as far as football was concerned. But the Rovers also produced the goods and the Orient didn't look like the same team from the first half. A great win for the Rovers over one of the top teams.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson, Sean McDaid; James Hayter, Lewis Guy

Subs used - Jason Price for McDaid 46 mins; Paul Green for Stock 79 mins; Gordon Greer for Hayter 87 mins;

Subs not used - Martin Woods, Craig Nelthorpe

Cautions - Lockwood,

Leyton Orient - Stuart Nelson; Steve Purches, Charlie Daniels, Tamika Mkandawire, Brian Saah, JJ Melligan, Adam Chambers, Jabo Ibehre, Paul Terry, Adam Boyd, Jason Demetriou

Subs used - Wayne Gray for Boyd 79 mins; Wayne Corden for Demetriou 79 mins;

Subs not used - Alton Thirlwell, Aiden Palmer, Glenn Morris (GK) 

Cautions - Chambers, Saah,