Millers Shot Down

The Millers lost again in a first round replay in the FA Cup as Aldershot bounced back from eight away defeats to win at Don Valley tonight.

Two goals from Kirk Hudson and one from Marvin Morgan means that it will be Aldershot who make the journey to Millwall for the second round at the end of the month. But it was the home side that started the better and in the opening minute Richie Barker headed the ball goalbound which Anthony Straker managed to clear and put out for a corner. Minutes later, Barker fired just over the bar and Reuben Reid had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Atwell. It was slack defending by skipper, Pablo Mills, that let in Hudson who smashed a fierce shot past debutant, Steven Cann in goal. And that seemed to change the game as Shot started to move forward and the Millers had all on defending. Morgan steered the ball just wide of the far post and Mills was easily outpaced by Louie Soars but his tame shot was easy for Cann to collect. The Millers had a looping header from Reid go just over the bar while at the other end John Grant had a shot that sailed over and a Scott Davies shot was blocked on the six yard line.

The visitors started the second half as they finished the first although the second goal came as the Millers pushed forward. Straker’s ball found Hudson who laid it on for Morgan and he placed the ball into the corner of the net while the home side looked for an offside flag. Morgan could have made it three-nil ten minutes later but Cann dived and saved the ball at the second attempt. With ten minutes to go, Grant found Hudson just inside the area and his fierce shot sank into the net. Rotherham did press in last ten minutes but whichever way they turned were thrawted by a referee’s whistle, linesman’s flag, good defending or poor passing.

I think it said it all when the majority of the home fans left as the third goal went in and it was left to the visiting fans to do the conga at Don Valley.