AKPO SODJE grabbed the goal which enabled Town Reserves to keep up the pressure on leaders Scunthorpe.
The burly striker took advantage of a defensive mix-up two minutes before half time to round goalkeeper Craig Parry and seal a deserved victory.
Second-placed Town moved to within two points of Scunthorpe, who they play in the final match of the season, but the Glanford Park second string have a match in hand.
Even so, John Dungworth's men, who travel to Darlington next Wednesday (2.00), have every incentive for their remaining five games as Doncaster are also in with a chance of pipping them for first or second place.
Yesterday's derby at the Galpharm was a low-key affair, although John McCombe and Tom Clarke did well at the back, Matthew Young and Mark Sheridan showed some nice touches in midfield and there was an encouraging run-out from Chris Evans, who replaced Steve Yates afer just 22 minutes.
Skipper Yates had started the game solidly, but he could feel a hamstring tightening and did not want to risk further damage with the MK Dons trip just around the corner.
Without him at the back, Town immediately reverted to a 4-4-2 formation from 3-5-2, with Clarke moving to the right-back slot.
Town remained pretty much in control of the contest, although their control and passing at times let them down and the finishing could certainly have been more clinical.
Junior Mendes, for instance, hesitated on a couple of occasions when he should have shot, while when he did get drives away there was always a defender ready to make a block.
Evans was unlucky not to score his first goal at Pontin's League level after 33 minutes following a sweeping move involving Clarke, Sheridan and Mendes - the offside flag harshly denying him a crisp left-foot finish.
Evans was again involved in a neat break immediately before Sodje's goal, which he took well after Parry had been left stranded by an experienced back line including Mark Monington and Paul Stoneman.
In the second half, a curling drive by Young was Town's best effort despite dominating territorially, and it took a splendid block from Anthony Lloyd, who passed a late fitness test to play, to prevent Neil Ross snatching an equaliser for the visitors.
Town - Senior, Walls (Shaw 81), Lloyd, McCombe, Yates (Evans 22), Clarke, Hardy, Young, A Sodje, Mendes, Sheridan. Subs not used: Giles, Highley, Biddle.
