Millers Can’t Hold On

Rotherham United could not hold on to their one goal lead as they end up sharing the points with fourth from bottom team, Torquay United, as well as having midfielder, Gary Roberts red carded in time added on.

Torquay were first out of the stalls when, in the opening minute, a Nicky Wroe corner found the head of Mark Ellis only for Andy Warrington, in the Millers` net to make a magnificent finger tip save. The Millers got into their stride on sixteen minutes when Danny Harrison shot from twenty-five yards out only for the ball to hit the post and a minute later a right footed strike from top scorer, Adam Le Fondre, also smashed against the post. But the pressure paid off in the twentieth minute when a cross from Nicky Law went to the far side of the box and more or less hit Harrison on the run and went into the net. Two minutes later, Nicky Law was in the action again as his cross found the head of Ian Sharps but the ball went just over the bar. Former Miller, Guy Branston, had a busy first half and he cleared a dangerous looking ball from Tom Pope before Scott Bevan made a good save from Mark Lynch. It was all the Millers now and Bevan made another save from the head of Pope while Mark Ellis cleared from Law. Five minutes before half-time, Nicky Wroe hit an inswinging corner which Nick Fenton did well to block before Roberts cleared the ball away from the danger area. Back at the other end Branston again blocked a shot from Law before the last minute of the half when Torquay began to put a bit of pressure on the Millers goal. Tyrone Thompson hit the ball over the bar and Sharps cleared the ball away from a Mohammed Camara cross. The last action of the half was by referee Nigel Miller who showed Roberts a yellow card for a foul on Thompson.

Like the first half the visitors came out the more lively for the second forty-five minutes but, unlike the first half the Millers didn`t! Although, the first shot of the half was from an inswinging corner by Ellison which was well punched away by Bevan. At the other end Warrington did well to save from Ashley Barnes. A quick free kick from Roberts found Le Fondre, but, once again, the striker was denied as his shot clipped the crossbar and went over. Then Barnes really should have scored for Torquay after he found himself in front of goal just a few yards out with only Warrington to beat, but couldn`t hit the target and he saw the ball go over the bar. With the Millers being pinned back in their own half Elliot Benyon was introduced and straight away he had a shot that went inches over the bar. With ten minutes to go, Sharps did well get in a block from Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, on for Camara while Ryan Taylor, on for Ellison, had a shot blocked at the other end by Chris Robertson and from the resulting corner, Branston cleared up field. The visitors were getting more confident and it paid off in the eighty-fifth minute when a long throw from Robertson was flicked on by Ellis and Benyon put the ball in the net from six yards out. Marc Joseph nearly restored the Millers` lead in the final minute but his header was well caught by Bevan. In time added on, the Millers` misery was complete as a bad tackle by Roberts on Rowe-Turner earned him his second yellow card of the night and an early bath.

Why can’t we hold on?