Salford City 1 Rotherham United 1
Henderson (pen 84) Crooks (90+6)
Salford win 4-2 on pens
Despite having the majority of this first cup game of the season Rotherham United bow out at the first hurdle after a late goal from substitute Matt Crooks had given them a lifeline.
In the opening twenty-five minutes of the game it was the Millers who had the most chances the first being in the first minute when Freddie Ladapo crossed the ball in to Michael Smith who saw his effort go over the crossbar. It was Ladapo himself who had a shot from outside the box blocked before he had the ball taken off his foot by Ash Eastham as he was about to shoot from just outside the box. Chieo Ogbene saw a shot go over the bar but just a minute later brought off a good save from City ‘keeper Vaclav Hladky who dived at the feet of the Millers winger to stop him getting a shot away. On the half-hour mark new boy Kieran Sadlier took the ball forward seeing his powerful effort drift just wide of the upright. Another great save from new Ammies ‘keeper Hladky off a good shot from the edge of the box from Jamie Lindsay which was followed by a header from Michael Ihiekwe also being saved by the Czech shot stopper. As the half came to an end the visitors got a free-kick which came to nothing leaving the score at nil-nil.
Rotherham started the second forty-five as they ended the first and it was only a good challenge from Tom Clarke that stopped Jamie Lindsay getting into a good shooting position. At the other end a corner went over Jamal Blackman’s head with the Millers defence having to clear before a great chance for the visitors saw Wes Harding have a shot at goal which City ‘keeper Vaclav Hladky put over the bar before he did well to save again minutes later from Chieo Ogbene. Rotherham were the first to make a change just before the hour mark fetching Kyle Vassell on for Michael Smith with Vassell’s first touch seeing him get a free-kick off Darron Gibson. Time and time again Rotherham got the better of the Salford defence but just couldn’t find the back of the net, mostly because of the heroics from Hladky. Former Rotherham loanee Tom Elliott came off the bench for the hosts replacing Luke Armstrong. Kieran Sadlier found himself in acres of space but managed to blast high and wide before Salford won a free-kick in a good area which Ashley Hunter took trying to find Ian Henderson who was flagged off-side. The hosts were getting more into the game and were winning a few free-kicks which, luckily for Rotherham, came to nothing. With twenty minutes to go Rotherham brought on Matt Crooks for Jamie Lindsay. Ibou Touray sent a good ball through for Hunter but the former Fleetwood striker sent the ball straight into the waiting arms of Jamal Blackman. Wes Harding was the next player to be subbed by the visitors with Billy Jones taking his place. The Ammies second change came on the eightieth minute with Brandon Thomas-Asante coming on for Bruno Andrade. With seven minutes to go Blackman brought down Elliott in the area, when it really looked easier for the Rotherham ‘keeper to catch the ball. After a yellow card for the Rotherham ‘keeper Henderson took and scored the resulting spot-kick to give the hosts the lead. City made their final substitution with three minutes to go fetching on Jordan Turnbull for Ashley Hunter. The board went up for five extra minutes and the Millers threw everything at it, twice hitting the crossbar before getting a deserved goal in the last minute after a corner which saw the ball ping-pong around around the box it finally found its way to Matt Crooks who got a head to it and put the ball into the net to send the tie to penalties.
Penalties
Touray scored – Salford 1-0 Rotherham
Vassell missed – Salford 1-0 Rotherham
Henderson scored – Salford 2-0 Rotherham
Ladapo scored – Salford 2-1 Rotherham
Gibson scored – Salford 3-1 Rotherham
Sadlier scored – Salford 3-2 Rotherham
Thomas-Asante scored – Salford 4-2 Rotherham
Mattock pen saved
Salford win 4-2
Teams
Salford City
Hladky
Touray
Lowe
Eastham
Clarke
Armstrong (Elliott)
Gibson
Hunter (Turnbull)
Andrade (Thomas-Asante)
Threikeld
Henderson
Subs not used – Hayes, Wilson, Denny, Golden
Rotherham United
Blackman
Harding (Jones)
Ihiekwe
Wood
Mattock
Ogbene
S.MacDonald
Lindsay (Crooks)
Sadlier
Ladapo
Smith (Vassell)
Subs not used – Johansson, Thompson, A.MacDonald, Robertson,
