JJ Goal Enough For All Three Points

AFC Wimbledon 0 Rotherham United 1
                                        Kayode 60

A sixtieth minute goal was enough for Rotherham United to bring all three points back to South Yorkshire from Wimbledon this evening to keep them top of League One.

Rotherham United started the game well winning an early free-kick which Shane Ferguson took finding the head of skipper for the night Michael Ihiekwe who saw the ball land on the top of the net. Some nice work between Jamie Lindsay and Chieo Ogbene saw the Millers win a corner with Ferguson finding Joe Mattock who brought off a good save from Wimbledon ‘keeper Nikola Tzanev. At the other end Jack Rudoni sent a nice ball to Sam Crosgrove whose powerful shot was well saved by Josh Vickers in the Rotherham goal. And it was Cosgrove again a few minutes later who saw a shot from just outside the box blocked. Wes Harding did well to get by his marker and find Michael Smith but his header was wide before the Millers striker was fouled by Daniel Csoka the resulting Ferguson free-kick was swung into the goal area with Will Grigg rising to head the ball into the net but his celebration was cut short when the linesman flagged for offside. Some super defending from Lindsay stopped Cheye Alexander getting a shot away before a Dan Barlaser free-kick was saved at the second attempt by Tzanev. Joe Mattock was the first name in the book when he brought down Jack Rudoni on the edge of the area with the set-piece coming to nothing. Paul Kalambayi received a good ball in the six yard box but headed wide for the hosts before Ogbene won a corner at the other end which Mattock headed over. In the final minute of the half the hosts had half a shout for a penalty when Nesta Guinness-Walker went down with Harding the nearest to him but referee Charles Breakspear was having none of it. Rotherham broke with Smith who sent a lovely ball towards Grigg but Tzanev was there first.

Wimbledon started the second half with Will Nightingale on for Daniel Csoka with the subs first touch seeing him hack down Jamie Lindsay who had gone on a run down the pitch and receive a yellow card. The resulting free-kick came back to Shane Ferguson who puts it into the box towards Will Grigg but Ben Heneghan got there before him. Minutes later the visitors had a great chance to go in front when Grigg sent a super ball through for Michael Smith who shot was well saved by Nikola Tzanev. Grigg went down and after treatment on the pitch was helped off and replaced by Joshua Kayode. Just before the hour mark Joe Mattock set up Ben Wiles who got the ball where he wanted it and bent it in seeing it go inches past the upright. A minute later some good work between the back three eventually saw the ball go up the wing with Chieo Ogbene who saw JJ run into the box squaring the ball to him to see him put it under the diving Tzanev for his first league goal for Rotherham with all the Millers players going to celebrate with him. And it might have been two after a Smith flick found Harding who saw his header hit the corner of the crossbar before going to safety. Smith then saw an effort blocked before a Ferguson cross found JJ who headed just over the crossbar. A cross from Dan Barlaser found Ogbene whose shot was blocked before a Mattock cross found Wiles who saw his shot saved by Tzanev. A couple of changes for the hosts saw Terry Ablade and Luke McCormick on for Ayoub Assal and Jack Rudoni. The Millers made a change of their own with the away fans standing to welcome Angus MacDonald back into action after a lengthy lay off who replaced Joe Mattock. And it was nearly a perfect scenario for the defender when a ball comes into the box and he sent it towards goal only to see a Wimbledon defender block the shot. A long ball from Josh Vickers found Ben Wiles who skirted into the box to win a corner for the visitors which came to nothing before a free-kick for the hosts was sent into the box at the other end by Anthony Hartigan but was blocked by Wiles and cleared. A great run by Harding saw the Jamaican International cross the ball into the box with Tzanev getting there just before JJ. In five minutes of time added on Jamie Lindsay made way for Hakeem Odoffin before Michael Ihiekwe did well to stop a ball fro Hartigan reach Ablade who was in a good position to try a shot. After Odoffin won a ball back he sent Ogbene on his way with the winger winning a free-kick and George Marsh getting a yellow card for the foul. After the kick was taken the whistle went for full-time and it was another three points on the road for top of the table Rotherham United.

Another clean sheet, another three points and a first league goal for JJ – a great night was had by all.

Attendance- 6,387 with 551 of those being Millers fans

Referee – Charles Breakspear