Law wins game for Millers

Rotherham United got their second away league win under Ronnie Moore at a cold Vale Park this afternoon with, practically the last kick of the game.

The Millers took the game to Vale straight away with both Dale Tonge and Kevin Ellison going close for the visitors. After five minutes, Andy Warrington in the Millers’ goal, smothered a long ball from Louis Dodds and five minutes later Kris Taylor blazed way over the bar after he received the ball from a Tommy Fraser free-kick. Ellison limped off injured after fifteen minutes and was replaced by Stephen Brogan. The Millers got a free-kick and Nick Fenton forced Chris Martin to get down to save. Adam Le Fondre was next to shoot from some twenty-five yards out and Martin managed to get his fingertips to the ball to put it over the bar. On the half hour mark, Dale Tonge sent a ball deep into the area and Brogan was on hand to bundle the ball over the line to put the visitors into the lead. Millers fans were up clapping and shouting the youngsters name and were all obviously happy that he had got his first goal since coming back from a terrible injury. Five minutes later the home side were level. Tommy Fraser got the ball to Marc Richards who chested the ball down and sent it to Adam Yates who, in turn, found Luke Prosser whose header went in off the near left hand post giving Warrington no chance. Just before half-time Nick Fenton was fouled by Prosser which resulted in players from both sides being involved in a ‘handbags’ brawl. Referee, Peter Quinn, booked Fenton, Marc Richards and Prosser. On the stroke of half-time, Prosser stopped Le Fondre in his tracks by tugging him back by his shirt. The referee showed him another yellow followed by a red.

Rotherham should have come out all guns blazing against the ten men of Port Vale but it was the home side who re-grouped and not long after the re-start Richards shot just inches wide of the post. Nicky Law, playing down the middle, was lively for the visitors and he had a shot from twenty yards out that went just wide. A quiet Drewe Broughton was replaced by Tom Pope but he hardly saw the ball as the game became a mixture of mis-kicks and poor tackles. The referee finally lost the game when the Millers had broke free only for him to bring play back and give a drop ball which was won by Warne but again the referee blew for a re-drop ball. Vale were throwing everyone forward but really didn’t have any shots at goal and at the other end Vale’s ‘keeper didn’t have a shot to save. But Nicky Law’s never say never attitude resulted in the Millers’ winner when two minutes into time added on he fired home from the edge of the box to send the visiting fans into raptures and give the Millers all three points which sends them into fourth place in the table.

It was better today but there was still a lot lacking which was there at the start of the season – we had not wide players and our passing still leaves a lot to be desired at times.