Match Reports

Millers Through To Second Round Of Carabao Cup

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Port Vale 1   Rotherham United 2
Benning (81)  Rathbone (8)
                         Ogbene (45+4)

Two first half goals were enough for Rotherham United to go through to the next round of the Carabao Cup, though hosts Port Vale made it a nervy last ten minutes for the Championship side.

There were changes and debuts for both teams before the game kicked-off with the Millers giving debuts to Lee Peltier, Jamie McCart and Scott High while Vale made five changes from their loss at Exeter at the weekend.

An early free-kick for the hosts came to nothing before Grant Hall did well to usher Sam Robinson away from the ball. A cross from Cohen Bramall was too far for Georgie Kelly which was followed by a corner for the Millers which fell to Jamie McCart whose looping shot was sent out for another corner. Then, on eight minutes, the Millers were gifted the lead after a challenge from Ollie Rathbone saw a Vale player slip with the ball going back to Vale ‘keeper Aidan Stone who was rushed into a clearance by Kelly the ball hitting Rathbone as it went into the net. Vale nearly came straight back at the Millers when a cross from Sam Robinson found the head of Rory Holden but he saw the ball go just past the upright. Scott High was next to have a shot at goal after he found himself in acres of room but his shot from distance went over the crossbar before Bramall saw a shot blocked. A ball from Dan Barlaser, who has the captains armband for the night, found Conor Washington who in turn found Kelly just yards out but the Irish forward somehow fluffed his lines and saw his header not only go high but also wide. After Robinson went down under a challenge from McCart, Tom Conlon took a quick free-kick towards Robinson but Grant Hall was there to clean up. Another free-kick in a dangerous place for the hosts saw Rotherham ‘keeper Josh Vickers climb and save. An injury to Peter Kioso ended with him leaving the pitch and Wes Harding taking his place. Some nice play from Bramall saw him nutmeg Conlon and dash forward but Holden got there first. After treatment on the pitch Conor Washington was replaced by Chieo Ogbene. Robinson got the ball and nutmegged McCart before going down in a bit of a theatrical way with referee Bobby Madden not interested. Ogbene got the ball on the half-way line but before he could turn he was scythed down by Nathan Smith who got the first yellow of the game. Some nice work from Robinson saw Vale win a corner which was headed away by McCart before a chance at the other end for Rathbone who had room but he sliced his cross and the ball sailed behind for a goal-kick. In time added on some super passing football by the visitors saw Rathbone find Ogbene ten yards out who poked it under Stone for the Millers second goal. Port Vale tried to get back into the game through the lively Robinson but he saw his shot cleared at the far post by Harding giving the hosts a corner which came to nothing.

The Millers began the second-half with Cameron Humphries and Jamie Lindsay on for Grant Hall and Dan Barlaser. A pass from Ben Garrity was cut out by Lee Peltier, who now wears the captains armband, before it reached Thierry Small, who is on loan from Southampton. Good running from Chieo Ogbene saw him get in the area and cut the ball back to Lindsay who saw his shot blocked but fall to Peltier who saw the linesman flag raised. A free-kick for Vale ended in the Millers giving away a corner which saw Will Forrester put the ball in the net but a linesman’s flag stopped his celebration. Peltier did well after a Tom Conlon ball found the head of Rory Holden, the Millers defender getting in the way to stop a shot coming in from Vale. There was a big chance for the visitors on the hour mark when a cross from Cohen Bramall was headed towards goal by Georgie Kelly bringing off a good save from Aiden Stone. A couple of corners for the Millers came to nothing as did a free-kick for Vale. A number of changes for the hosts saw Tommy McDermott, former Miller Jamie Proctor, Malvind Benning, Funso Ojo and Gavin Massey come on for Tom Pett, Rory Holden, Thierry Small, Nathan Smith and Sam Robinson while Richard Wood came on for the Millers, Lee Peltier going the other way – with Wood the third captain of the night. Nice football from Lindsay saw Bramall win a corner which Wood rose for but was beaten by Forrester. Cohen Bramall was shown a yellow card. With ten minutes to go McDermott drove forward finding Benning who cuts inside and curls the ball into the net to half the deficit. And minutes later it might have been two when a low cross from Massey was looking for Proctor but a good stop from Humphreys saw him clear the ball away from danger. Nerves seemed to have got the better of the Millers and Georgie Kelly had to get back to defend becoming the filling between two Port Vale players and won a free-kick. In time added on it was Humphreys again who stopped Dan Jones getting a shot away before more great defending by Wood who three times headed the ball away from danger before winning a free-kick.

The Millers looked to be coasting to a victory and then Vale scored and got on top and we went into panic mode. Luckily we defended well and go into a second round, two-one winners.


Referee – Bobby Madden
Official Gate – 3,094 with 190 Millers making the journey

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