Millers Dumped Out Of FA Cup

Rotherham United 1-3 Cheltenham Town
Wilks (37)                       Colwill (36, 45+1)
                                          Archer (58)

Rotherham United bowed out at the first attempt at the FA Cup losing three-one to League Two side Cheltenham Town.

It was the visitors who had the first shot at goal with Luke Young deciding to have a go from distance which went wide. At the other end Mallik Wilks caused a problem winning a free-kick which Joe Powell took short to Cohen Bramall who won the first corner of the game which was cleared by George Miller. On ten minutes Rotherham ‘keeper Cameron Dawson had to be aware when Miller tried to get a ball through for Ethon Archer the Millers’ number one getting there before him. Wilks left his marker behind before finding Joe Rafferty who sent the ball to Christ Tiehi whose long-range shot went well wide. Archer worked well winning the ball back on the wing but sending the ball behind the upright. The first yellow of the afternoon went to Liam Kinsella. Some good movement from Jack Holmes saw him get away from his marker sending the ball to Hakeem Odoffin whose ball towards Wilks fell just short. On the thirty-sixth minute a first corner for the visitors saw Young send it in finding Colwill and a mistake by the Millers’ ‘keeper saw Joel Colwill put the ball into the back of the net. But just a minute later the ball went down the other end with Wilks who put the ball across Joe Day in the Robins’ goal and into the net for the equaliser. Minutes later Bramall got the better side of Sam Stubbs, former Millers Manager Alan Stubbs son, but the Town defender did well to get his feet right and win a free-kick which came to nothing. Wilks did well to keep on his feet under a couple of challenges and get the ball in towards Jordan Hugill but it was just a little high. As the half went into time added on a great cross from Miller to Payne saw the right-back put the ball on the head of Colwill who flicked the ball into the top corner of the net to make it two-one.

The second half started with a change for the hosts Sam Nombe coming on for Christ Tiehi. Joe Powell was in action straight from the second half getting a yellow card with the resulting free-kick not getting over the wall but coming back out to Cheltenham the Millers finally defending it. Great work from Mallik Wilks saw him send a brilliant ball in for Nombe but his shot from close in was defended well by Sam Stubbs but it really just needed tapping in. A low ball in from Nombe was cleared but only as far as Zak Jules who looked to find Nombe, who was probably offside, but didn’t move towards it. Just before the hour mark Ethon Archer made a great run down the pitch getting by a number of red shirted players before getting into the area and putting it across Cameron Dawson into the net to make it three-one. A poor challenge on Joe Powell saw Luke Young booked. Changes for both sides saw Jordan Thomas make way for the visitors for Arkell Jude-Boyd while Joe Rafferty, Joe Powell and Jack Holmes went off for Alex MacDonald, Liam Kelly and Joseph Hungbo. Hakeem Odoffin was the next player to get booked for fetching down the Robins substitute. A last change for Rotherham saw Mallik Wilks limp off and Ben Hatton cone on in his place. Lovely work by Stubbs saw him find Tom Bradbury who put the ball through but there was a foul in there and the Millers won a free-kick. Hungbo got the better of Lewis Payne sending the ball to MacDonald who tried to get it to Nombe but it was cut out. A free-kick for the visitors saw the ball find Miller who sent it to Bradbury before winning a throw which the Millers defence did well to clear up field. Minutes later nice work between Colwill and Archer saw Cameron Humphreys do well to keep the ball out before Nombe had a shot at the other end which came back out to Hungbo the ball ending in Joe Day’s hands. Matty Taylor and Tom Pett came off the bench for the Robins with Joel Colwill and George Miller going the other way. A mistake from Scott Bennett saw the ball fall to Jordan Hugill but he put the ball wide when it looked just as easy to score before the Millers captain had another chance which was well saved by Day. As four extra minutes went up a free-kick found Hungbo who saw his shot ricochet off a Town player for a corner which MacDonald sent into the area being cleared by Pett but only as far as a red shirt who put it back in only to see it cleared again.

There isn’t a lot I can say about this except – oh dear.

Attendance – 2,770 with 220 Robins making the journey

Referee – Adam Herczeg