Rotherham United 4 Sutton United 2 AET
Wiles (42) Wilson (30)
Osei-Tutu (90+6) Eastmond (48)
Ogbene (96)
Ihiekwe (112)
Rotherham United twice came from behind in the Papa John’s Trophy final at to win the game in extra time this afternoon at Wembley.
The Millers were into the action quickly when Mickel Miller was upended by Joe Kiki and won a free-kick which Dan Barlaser swung into the box but couldn’t find a red shirt. At the other end Sutton did well to get into the penalty area with Ollie Rathbone appearing to come to Rotherham’s aid but his clearance was a poor one and eventually fell to Will Randall who saw his shot end up in the side netting. Randall was on the front foot minutes later when he was played in down the left with his cross being put behind for a corner which saw Millers’ ‘keeper Viktor Johansson punch away before it came back at him when he held onto it. On thirteen minutes the League Two side should have taken the lead when some good footwork from David Ajiboye saw him get the better of his marker and find Randall who had the goal at his mercy but put his shot wide. The Millers flew up the other end but Sutton took the ball and tried to counter with Ben Wiles seeing the first yellow of the game for stopping Omar Bugiel in his tracks. Chieo Ogbene saw himself in room and running down the wing was chopped down by Randall – who didn’t see a yellow card. Michael Smith found himself in space in the area but a lineman’s flag put paid to that before Ogbene finally got away from his marker, former Miller Rob Milsom, but as he was about to set Rathbone off on a run Craig Eastmond took the ball away from him. Just before the half-hour mark Rotherham won a corner which Joe Mattock put just wide before Sutton won a corner at the other end which Milsom put into the crowded penalty area. The Millers only half cleared the ball and while Smith was pondering what to do Randall got the ball away from him sending it to Donovan Wilson who hit the ball into the net from just inside the area giving the U’s the lead. And some more poor defending from Rotherham almost let Sutton in again when Randall hit the ball towards goal with Johansson getting himself behind it to deny him. Ogbene found himself with room at the other end and sent in a curling shot which went well wide before a punt up field from Johansson found the head of Smith before JJ held the ball up before finding Ben Wiles who shied away from a Sutton challenge to hit the ball from distance over Sutton ‘keeper Dean Bouzanis, touching the crossbar, and into the net for the equaliser. In time added on Ogbene curled a ball into the area for Smith who forced a save off Bouzanis before their opponents won a free-kick at the other end which JJ dealt with.
Michael Smith and Johsua Kayode worked well together in the opening minute of the second half to find Ben Wiles who let fly but this time Dean Bouzanis was equal to the shot. Ollie Rathbone was taking too much time over the ball in the middle of the park when David Ajiboye nipped in and took the ball away from him before proceeding to get the better of Joe Mattock before sending the ball into the penalty area. Michael Ihikewe blocked the shot but the ball bounced out to Craig Eastmond who coolly put the ball past a helpless Viktor Johansson and into the net to get the lead back for Sutton. Minutes later Richard Wood had to be aware when Will Randall got into a good position to clear before Wiles sends a good ball over to Mickel Miller who saw his shot deflected behind for a corner which saw Dan Barlaser find the head of Michael Ihiekwe but the ball went wide. On the hour mark the Millers made a double substitution with Ollie Rathbone and JJ making way for Wes Harding and Freddie Ladapo. Sutton gifted the ball to Chieo Ogbene who found Smith in the middle but the Millers top scorer couldn’t keep the ball down. Wiles then had a chance from distance with Bouzanis did well to get away. The first change for the U’s saw Isaac Olaofe replace Donovan Wilson with Olaofe’s first touch in the game seeing him ease past Richard Wood who recovered to put the substitute off balance and his shot went into the side netting. Some nice work between Dan Barlaser and Wes Harding saw the latter send the ball up for Ladapo who headed straight into the waiting arms of Bouzanis. After going down with cramp Ben Goodliffe was taken off and Coby Rowe take his place. With ten minutes to go the Millers had a great chance to equalise after Wiles’ cross saw Ladapo one-on-one with Bouzanis but the Millers striker appeared to hesitate before sending the ball towards the ‘keeper who made a great save with his outstretched legs. With ten minutes to go Jordi Osei-Tutu and Shane Ferguson came on for Rotherham with Joe Mattock and Mickel Miller going the other way while a triple change by Sutton saw Craig Eastmond, Omar Bugiel and Rob Milsom replaced by Richie Bennett, Kenny Davis and Ben Wyatt who all looked to be suffering with cramp. Louis John was shown a yellow card for hauling down Ladapo before the board went up for a further seven minutes – much of that, I have to say, brought on by the Sutton players taking their time going off the pitch. A long ball up field found Smith who saw Wyatt block and send the ball out for a corner which Baralser sends it only for Bouzanis to punch clear. The final change of the afternoon saw Jamie Lindsay on for Dan Barlaser. As it looked like Sutton were going to be handed the trophy a ball into the box from Ladapo was cleared but only as far as Osei-Tutu who curled the ball in to the net despite presence from the ‘keeper and a couple of defenders to send the tie into extra time.
Extra Time
In the opening minutes of the extra thirty Joe Kizzi hacked Jordi Osei-Tutu down earning a yellow card the resulting free-kick winning a corner which came to nothing. At the other end the ball fell to Harry Beautyman at the edge of the box but his shot went over the crossbar. But with the U’s tiring the Millers were soon on top of the game and with six minutes gone a long ball forward helped on by Michael Smith to Freddie Ladapo who in turn found Chieo Ogbene who dinked this way then that before scoring a scorching goal from distance to give Rotherham the lead for the first time in the game. Minutes later a cross from Shane Ferguson found Michael Ihiekwe who stooped low to head the ball across goal seeing it his the upright before finding Ladapo who saw his shot fetch off an excellent save from Dean Bouzanis. Sutton had a good chance when Isaac Olaofe found the ball at his feet but he blasted over.
The League Two side had obviously started to tire and it was the Millers who took that to their advantage when they won a second corner on one hundred and eleven minutes which Shane Ferguson sent in finding the head of Michael Ihiekwe who buried the ball to make it four-two to Rotherham. Freddie Ladapo had a chance when he finds himself all alone with the ball but his shot came to nothing – maybe he would have been better playing it to the left or right where there was a red shirted player waiting for the ball? Jordi Osei-Tutu and Michael Smith both had shots saved before referee Seb Stockbridge blew the whistle and the Millers fans went wild.
Let’s be honest the first ninety or so minutes were poor from Rotherham and as the clock ticked round I really thought Sutton deserved the win. Millers fans were starting to go to the exits (I always wonder why because this is Rotherham United and there is often a sting in the tail!) when Chieo made it three smashing goals. Then it was all Rotherham, Sutton were beat, looked tired and couldn’t keep up with us.
So, did we deserve to win? No, I don’t think so. Did Sutton deserve to lose? I thought they played very, very well and was sorry for them that most of their fans had disappeared when they went to collect their runners-up medals. But are Rotherham United top of the league and with a new trophy to put in the cupboard? You bet they are!
Attendance – 30,688
Referee – Seb Stockbridge
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