Rossington-raised Darius Henderson put the wind up Doncaster and condemned them to their third home defeat of the season.
Henderson’s stunning second half strike sealed a workmanlike win for Orient on a blustery night at the Keepmoat.
Earlier in the day the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo had swept through town. More nights like this, and the storm clouds could soon be gathering above the Keepmoat Stadium.
Rovers’night got off to a disastrous start when Jay Simpson coolly slotted the visitors ahead within two minutes.
Paul Dickov’s side had chances before the interval and they thought they were denied a blatant penalty for handball.
But Rovers looked every inch a side both short on confidence and brittle at the back as they dropped to 17th in the League One table.
On a chilly night Rovers were caught cold during the opening exchanges when Simpson found himself in the box, brushed off his marker with relative ease and coolly slotted past Jed Steer into the far corner.
Straight from the restart Coppinger weaved into space on the edge of the box but delayed his shot too long.
But after Charlie Dagnall flashed another shot just wide for the visitors there were a few boos from the Keepmoat crowd.
It was far from the start that Dickov had had in mind when he asked his players in the build-up to the game to go the extra yard for the cause.
Doncaster, despite appearing panicky in possession and nervous at the back, should have levelled just prior to the 20-minute mark.
Nathan Tyson broke into the penalty area and when his shot was parried by former Rovers keeper Gary Woods, Coppinger’s shot on the turn from five yards out was blocked on the line by Elliot Omozusi.
Within a flash it was nearly 0-2 as Jobi McAnuff’s superb cross was deflected just wide of the post.
But despite the flurry of goalmouth incidents neither side had really settled in difficult conditions.
Tyson was a willing runner, while local lad Henderson was putting himself about in similar fashion for Orient, but it took until the closing stages of the first half for the game to re-ignite.
Firstly Liam Wakefield’s long ball over the top bounced over the stranded Woods and Tyson’s effort appeared to strike the arm of an Orient defender, only for Chris Sarginson to ignore Rovers appeals.
Woods then quickly made amends, saving smartly from Tyson to keep his side’s lead in tact at the break.
Doncaster began the second period in eager fashion but unable to make any serious inroads, and it wasn’t long before Kyle Bennett replaced the out of form Harry Forrester.
Dean Furman had a shot easily gathered by Woods. Bennett then attacked the edge of the box but hit a decent effort just wide.
But just as the hosts were threatening to up the tempo they found themselves two behind to a wonder-strike from Henderson.
An Orient corner was cleared to the edge of the box where the Rossington raised forward curled home a sensational left footed effort into the top far corner.
Curtis Main came on for Marc De Val and Rovers went 4-4-2 in response.
Coppinger flashed a great ball across the face of goal but there were no takers in a red and white shirt.
It just wasn’t happening for Doncaster and their attempts to get back into the game were in vain, despite Theo Robinson being thrown on in the closing stages.
ROVERS: Steer, Wakefield, Wabara, McCullough, McCombe (Robinson 84), De Val (Main 64), Coppinger, Wellens, Furman, Forrester (Bennett 52), Tyson. Subs not used: Marosi, Evina, Keegan, Lund.
ORIENT: Woods, Pritchard, Omozusi, Cuthbert (C), Lowry, Simpson, Price (Lee 80), Bartley, McAnuff, Dagnall (Batt 87), Henderson. Subs not used: Kashket, Grainger, Ling, Agyemang, Adeboyejo.
GOALS: Simpson (3), Henderson (64).