It was a much-improved showing on the 36-16 National League Two defeat at Boundary Park.
In that game the Dons' first line of defence and handling let them down badly, but not so last night.
The Dons defence was outstanding – it had to be at times – while head coach Ellery could have no complaints about the team's completion rate.
The Dons pack had come off second best in the first meeting, but they took the honours last night with all four props, hooker Corey Lawrie and skipper Peter Green, in particular, showing up well.
The versatile Zeb Luisi had an outstanding game at full-back, whilst half-backs Luke Gale and Kyle Wood were both prominent.
The Dons drew first blood after a keenly-contested start, when prop Michael Haley forced his way over from close range for a 15th minute try goaled by scrum-half Gale.
No sooner had the cheers died down than the Dons scored again with a try which would have graced any game.
Luisi broke strongly down the middle before finding Lawrie up in support. He in turn produced a superb offload out of the tackle to send stand-off Wood racing in for a second converted try to make it 12-0.
With scrum-half James Coyle providing the guile, Oldham hit back strongly but poor handling continued to hamper their efforts.
Dons skipper Peter Green produced a timely ankle-tap to deny speedy centre Marcus St Hilaire, who would have backed himself to make the line, 25 metres out.
Oldham's pressure was finally rewarded on 31 minutes when second-rower Tommy Goulden dived over in the corner for an unconverted try,
The Dons hit back almost immediately when Gale, who looked to be held, somehow managed to wriggle free and dive over for 33rd minute try to leave him just one touchdown short of equalling the club's tries-in-a-season record of 26.
Gale also added the extras to make it 18-4.
It was all Doncaster in the opening minutes of the second half and winger Wayne Rettie only just failed to reach Luisi's grubber kick before the ball ran dead on 50 minutes.
Green got over the line on the hour but was adjudged to have been held on his back.
Powerful centre Mick Nanyn threw the visitors a lifeline on 68 minutes when he crashed over from close range for a try he also converted to make it 18-10.
Oldham had their tails up at this stage and the Dons, playing their fourth game in 12 days, had to dig deep to deny them a third try.
Green had a second 'try' disallowed for a double movement before Rettie did well to beat his opposite number to Coyle's astute grubber kick.
A deserved win for the Dons, and one which keeps their faint hopes of a top-two spot alive.
Dons: Luisi, Colton, Bauer, Leaf, Rettie, Wood, Gale, Freer, Lawrie, Benson, Hart, Lawton, Green. Subs: Briggs, Castle, Haley, Faal.
Oldham: O'Connor, Cardiss, St Hilaire, Nanyn, Onyango, Joseph, Coyle, Boults, Hoyle, Merville, Goulden, Robinson, Roberts.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 597 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
