How Did Rotherham And Sutton Get To Wembley

Rotherham United are getting ready for a trip to Wembley on Sunday when they meet Sutton United in the Papa John’s Trophy Final.

But how did both teams get here? Here is a quick reminder.

The Millers topped group E starting with a six-nil away win against Doncaster Rovers with goals coming from Mickel Miller, Freddie Ladapo, Will Grigg, Jake Hull and Joe Mattock with an own goal in the middle. We then went on to beat Scunthorpe four-one (Grigg, Ladapo, Hakeem Odoffin and Michael Smith scoring) and a Manchester City U21 side five-nil (a Kieran Sadlier hat-trick with a goal each from Grigg and Hull) both at the New York Stadium.

Like Rotherham Sutton won all their three games and topped Group B. Tobi Sho-Silva, Alistair Smith and Ricky Korboa gave them a three-nil home win over a Crystal Palace U21 side, before they won away at Plymouth two-nil (goals from Isaac Olaofe and Louis John) followed by a one-nil home win against AFC Wimbledon when Donovan Wilson scored in the opening couple of minutes of the second half.

While Rotherham were drawing at home with Port Vale one-all, the hosts goal coming from Michael Smith, before getting a five-three penalty win the penalty scorers being Smith, Kieran Sadlier, Shane Ferguson, Freddie Ladapo and Joe Mattock, the U’s were also taking penalties after a goalless draw at the Borough Sports Ground with Stevenage. They won four-three with Craig Eastmond, Kenny Davies, Rob Milsom and Ben Goodliffe scoring the spot-kicks.

January saw Sutton at home to Colchester winning two-one with an own goal and after the visitors had drawn level Donovan Wilson scored the winner for the hosts. Meanwhile Rotherham welcomed Cambridge to the New York Stadium and after the game ended one-one, Michael Smith putting the Millers in front on fifty-six minutes there was another penalty shoot-out. It took seven spot-kicks for the Millers to win with Shane Ferguson, Freddie Ladapo, Mickel Miller, Ben Wiles, Joe Mattock, Jamie Lindsay and Michael Ihiekwe scoring and a save from Viktor Johansson to see the Millers through.

Rotherham had to come from one down at Crewe to win four-two in their next round. Kieran Sadlier equalised with Michael Smith making it two-one to the visitors. Crewe then got an equaliser but goals from Joshua Kayode and Freddie Ladapo sent the Millers through to the next round. At the Borough Sports Ground Craig Eastmond scored the only goal of the game ten minutes from time to give Sutton the win against Harrogate Town.

The Semi-Finals loomed and the U’s travelled to the DW Stadium where Will Randall-Hurren put them ahead just before the half-hour mark with the hosts equalising five minutes before half-time and as there were no more goal the game had to be decided on penalties which the visitors won seven-six goals coming from Craig Eastmond, Rob Milsom, Ben Goodliffe, Richie Bennett, Enzio Boldewijn, goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, who also saved two and Louis John.

It was an away trip to Hartlepool for Rotherham for their semi-final with the hosts going in front on twenty-nine minutes. Michael Smith equalised on fifty minutes but five minutes later ‘Pool were back in front only for Smith to get a second equaliser. The game went to penalties which the Millers won five-four scorers being Smith, Shane Ferguson, Dan Barlaser, Angus MacDonald and Mickel Miller.

So here we are, getting ready for our day out at Wembley.

Sing loud, sing proud!

Up The Millers.