Doncaster Rovers 3, Bradford Park Avenue 1

League One favourites Doncaster ended Avenue’s run in the FA Cup – but only after a keenly-contested Yorkshire derby at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Rovers were expected to progress and they duly did but this first-round tie was not settled until the 76th minute.

That late strike restored the home side’s two-goal cushion after Avenue had fought back from 2-0 down at half-time.

John Deacey’s underdogs did not lose heart but they were losing stamina more rapidly than Doncaster’s players and there were late chances for the hosts.

Avenue defended well and when five minutes of added time were signaled, they still had hopes of forcing a replay. But Rovers were too efficient to allow that.

The first chance of the game came from a free-kick for Doncaster but Paul Keegan fired his 25-yarder over Avenue goalkeeper Tim Deasy’s bar.

Deasy was in action minutes later when he won a tussle for the ball with former Bantams midfielder Dave Syers in the area.

Avenue’s first opening came when Paul Walker’s inviting waist-high cross went through Rovers’ area in the tenth minute. It just eluded the head of the lunging Richard Marshall as it flashed through the six-yard box.

A Walker shot was then blocked for a corner and Jordan Deacey’s flag-kick, and subsequent second cross, both brought oohs and aahs from the travelling supporters.

Doncaster started to threaten more and Iain Hume broke through but was penalised for a foul on Avenue skipper James Knowles in the area.

Minutes later a Billy Paynter shot was deflected for a corner, from which Rovers skipper Rob Jones won two headers and when the ball was half-cleared Sammy Clingan drilled wide from 25 yards.

From the counter-attack, Walker sent in a fierce angled shot that forced home keeper Gary Woods into a fine low save.

The deadlock was broken soon after when a 27th-minute break led to Hume, on loan from Tranmere Rovers, whipping the ball back into the area and Martin Woods lashed a shot past Deasy.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0 and this time it was Hume who converted. Paynter sent in a low centre and Hume was on the edge of the six-yard box to steer the ball in across the face of Deasy’s goal.

Martin Drury received a yellow card for Avenue and the resulting free-kick leading to Jones getting in another header. But there was no fear of the visitors losing their discipline or their focus.

Three minutes before the interval, former Bradford City striker Dean Saunders – the Doncaster manager – switched one ex-Bantam for another as he substituted Syers and introduced Robbie Blake.

There was just time for another booking apiece – the home side’s Andy Griffin for a foul on Deacey and Avenue’s Nathan Hotte for a verbal exchange following the challenge – before the half ended with Avenue on the attack.

Marshall forced the home keeper into a reaction parry early in the second half but Rovers responded when Woods forced Deasy into a sharp save.

Avenue then made their first change when former Doncaster youth player Rob O’Brien made way for Danny Holland.

Soon after, just before the hour mark, Avenue snatched their lifeline. Drury and Walker combined well and a square pass found Marshall, who curled a shot just inside Wood’s left-hand post before running to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.

Avenue thought they had cleared the danger in the build-up to the decisive third Doncaster goal. Knowles was facing his own goal but did well to head Blake’s cross away for a corner as it took the ball away from substitute Chris Brown.

But the big striker was not to be denied as he converted Keegan’s flag-kick with a powerful header from the edge of the area.

There was late drama for Avenue when Deasy injured himself while making a save and although he tried to continue, substitute keeper Ben Higginson had to come on for the last eight minutes plus the five of added time.