Millers Out Fox Leicester

Once again Rotherham United have taken on, bettered and beaten a side in a higher league than themselves in tonights Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

In front of a very vocal away support the visitors started well but couldn’t find a way past the Millers defence. The first real chance fell to the home team on ten minutes when a Dale Tonge cross found Drewe Broughton in the area but he only managed to hit the ball to ‘keeper, Paul Henderson. Six minutes later, birthday boy, Danny Harrison, had a free header that drifted just wide of the upright. It was the half-hour mark before the visitors had a sniff at goal when Steve Howard flicked the ball to Barry Hayles but his shot went straight to Andy Warrington in the Millers goal. Just before half-time, Hayles was sent through on goal but Andy Nicholas went with him and put him off his shot. Warrington came into his own just after that when he saved well from a Matt Oakley shot from thirty yards out. Then came the first goal in stoppage time when Drewe Broughton got on the end of a Pablo Mills cross and hammered the ball past Henderson much to the delight of the home fans.

Nicholas had the first attempt of the second half but his header went straight into the waiting arms of Henderson and substitute Matt Fryatt should have scored at the other end but his header was easily stopped by Warrington. On fifty-two minutes, the Millers doubled their lead when Mills collected the ball and crossed perfectly for Dale Tonge to slide in and put the ball into the net. Oakley should have done better from the re-start but his shot was scrambled off the line by a defender. Henderson then brought off a great fingertip save from an Alex Rhodes shot and a shot at the other end by Howard was saved by Warrington and a few minutes later Howard had another shot go just that went inches past the post. In the dying minutes, City were awarded a penalty which Fryatt took and Warrington saved with his legs to send the Foxes home with their tails between their legs and Andy Warringon’s name being chanted throughout Don Valley