Doncaster virtually secured their Coca-Cola Championship status after goals from John Spicer, James Hayter and Paul Heffernan saw them beat Plymouth at Home Park.

Plymouth had made a bright start but Rovers went in front with 15 minutes gone when Heffernan cut the ball ball back for the onrushing Spicer to score his first goal for Doncaster.

The visitors began to dominate and Gareth Roberts' excellent cross from the left found substitute Hayter who planted a bullet header past Romain Larrieu to double their lead.

The Pilgrims tried to force a way back into the game and Neil Sullivan produced an excellent save to deny Marcel Seip before Heffernan made the points safe with 20 minutes remaining.

The win meant Rovers only have a small mathematical chance of going down, while Plymouth remain deep in relegation trouble - just four points above the bottom three.

The home side started well and some intricate play resulted in Karl Duguid volleying just over from 20 yards with barely five minutes gone.

Doncaster gradually came into the game and took the lead with virtually their first chance after 15 minutes when Heffernan picked out Spicer and he finished superbly into the bottom-left corner.

Rovers grew in confidence after taking the lead and Martin Woods found space in the box but dragged his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

With 33 minutes gone the visitors doubled their advantage when Roberts got away down the left and sent in a high, hanging cross for Hayter to head in from close range.

Plymouth almost provided an immediate response when Paul Gallagher's free-kick found Seip but his header was somehow clawed away by Sullivan.

Paul Sturrock's side continued where they left off after the break and another pinpoint Gallagher delivery picked out Chris Barker who could only head straight at Sullivan.

Minutes later Jamie Mackie turned cleverly just outside the box but his sweet strike went just wide.

However just as in the first half, with Plymouth dominating, Doncaster got a crucial third goal when James Chambers laid the ball across for Heffernan to smash home.

That goal completely took the wind out of Plymouth's sails and the hosts rarely troubled the Doncaster goal with Carl Fletcher having a shot saved by Sullivan.

Doncaster almost added a fourth late on but Woods' strike from the edge of the box was narrowly off target.

Teams:

Plymouth Larrieu, Gray, Seip, Barker, Sawyer, Judge (Fallon 71), Fletcher, Duguid, Gallagher (Clark 79), Barnes (Donnelly 65), Mackie.

Subs Not Used: Saxton, Timar.

Doncaster Sullivan, Chambers, Mills, Roberts, Hird, Wellens (Byfield 77), Wilson (Hayter 21), Spicer, Martin Woods, Shiels (Van Nieuwstadt 68), Heffernan.

Subs Not Used: Guy, LuaLua.

Booked: Spicer.

Goals: Spicer 15, Hayter 33, Heffernan 70.

Att: 11,100

Ref: Phil Crossley (Kent).