Doncaster Rovers dumped out of the FA Cup by National League North King's Lynn Town
Doncaster 0 King's Lynn Town 1
King's Lynn Town experienced an afternoon they will never forget as they dumped League Two Doncaster Rovers out of the FA Cup at the Eco-Power Stadium.
A late goal from substitute Gold Omotayo left the visiting fans in dreamland in a tie the National League North high-flyers dominated almost from start to finish.
Lynn, who pocket £41,000 for their troubles, were good value for a victory against a side 36 places above them in football pyramid and in truth they should have won by even more.
The Linnets made two changes from the side beaten at Gloucester City last weekend as manager Tommy Widdrington resisted temptation to start new signing Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Aaron Jones and Olly Scott came back into the side at the expense of Ben Stephens and Gold Omotayo, who found themselves on the bench alongside Lynn's Friday night arrival.
Harrison Biggins – the son of ex-Linnet Wayne – was named in the starting line-up for the League Two outfit.
Lynn came out like a train and took no time to settle in the impressive surroundings of the Eco-Power Stadium.
In the opening minute a pot shot from Josh Barrett was gathered by Jonathan Mitchell.
The visitors kept the ball brilliantly in the early stages and a Barrett free-kick from just outside the box almost picked out Josh Coulson before Mitchell gratefully claimed the set piece.
Lynn continued to belie their lower-league status and a brilliant pass from Cameron Hargreaves pierced up the home defence.
His enterprise picked out Jordan Ponticelli who was unable to get his shot away before the ball found its way to Hargreaves whose shot was fumbled by Mitchell and scrambled from danger.
It took Doncaster all of 28 minutes to put Lynn on the back foot as a perfectly-timed tackle from Aaron Jones denied Jon Taylor a clear shot on goal.
Ten minutes before the interval a combination of Barrett, Jordan Ponticelli and Michael Clunan cut the Doncaster defence open with a delightful passing move which ended with Barrett dragging his shot wide.
The pressure continued from the National League North leaders and the fingertips of Mitchell down to his right denied Hargreaves the opener.
There was still time for a cheeky chip from Clunan to leave the home shotstopper back-pedalling as Lynn ended the half how they started it - on top.
Lynn remained in the ascendancy at the start of the second period.
A Widdrington corner just avoided the head of Crowther while Barrett curled a shot over the woodwork.
The home side were unable to get any kind of grip on the game but that was down to Lynn's tenacity all over the pitch.
Such was Doncaster's frustration, home boss Danny Schofield made a double substitution just before the hour mark.
But it was Lynn who continued to outplay their higher-league opponents and they should have got their noses in front after Barrett found himself one-on-one with Mitchell, only for the home goalkeeper to save with his body.
Denton put his body on the line to block a shot from substitute Molyneux as the home side enjoyed their best spell of the game.
Midway through the half Kyle Hurst rattled the Lynn woodwork as the visitors found themselves on the book foot for the first time in the tie.
It was left to two of Lynn's substitutions to seal a memorable win as Oxlade-Chamberlain's long throw was headed into the net by Omotayo seven minutes from time.
Lynn celebrated with their 661 travelling supporters at the end of a game which will live long in the memory.
Doncaster Rovers: Mitchell, Knoyle, Maxwell, Williams, Miller, Taylor (Molyneux 57), Biggins (Clayton 57), Long, Hurst (Wolman 82), Faulkner, Close (Agard 86). Subs: Oram, Barlow, Seaman, Whiting, Flint
King's Lynn Town: P. Jones, A. Jones, Crowther, Coulson, Denton, Hargreaves, Widdrington (Olade-Chamberlain 82), Clunan, Scott, Barrett (Omotayo 72), Ponticelli (Walker 90). Subs not used: Blair, Stephens, Callan-McFadden.
