Millers Through!

The Millers are through to the Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after a goal in each half took this tie to a penalty shoot-out at Don Valley this evening.

Darlington scored in, what was a dower, first half with a goal from Stephen Foster and the Millers grabbed a second half equaliser

Darlington had the first chance of this Cup Competition on four minutes when Sebastien Carole`s cross found Billy Clarke whose left footed shot was parried away to safety by Steven Cann. Cann then made two comfortable saves from Stephen Foster and Neil Austin before he brought off a fantastic save from a shot by Clarke. It was ten minutes before the Millers had their first chance of the game when Ryan Taylor saw his shot go just over the bar. Seven minutes later. Jamie Green found himself with the ball at his feet but saw his hard shot saved by Simon Brown in the visitors goal. On the half-hour mark, Cann again had to be on his toes to save from Carole but he was beaten five minutes later when Liam Hatch found Mansfield born Stephen Foster who shot home from six yards out. Alex Rhodes had a shot at goal which was easily saved by Brown and then he got the ball twenty yards out but saw his shot just go past the upright. Just before half time Cann again came into the game by making a great save from, what looked like a cross, from Hatch and the corner was cleared by Nick Fenton.

The second half started with Marc Joseph on for Peter Holmes and he was soon in the action when he made a clearance from Neil Austin. Cann brought off another good save from Hatch before Reuben Reid at the other end, saw his curling shot go over the bar. The home side suddenly sprang into life and Ryan Taylor had two shots saved by Brown before Dale Tonge saw a cross cleared by Foster. The goal came on seventy-four minutes when a Dale Tonge cross seemed to by pass everyone but reached either Danny Harrison or Nick Fenton, and one of the two put it in the back of the net. (I told you the pitch was a long way away!) After the goal the Millers seemed to push on and Taylor imparticular had a few shots towards goal. Hudson should have won it for the Millers but with the goal at his mercy, he put the ball over the bar. And, Darlington could have stolen it at the end too when Grant Holt got the ball in the net but the linesman flagged for offside.

And, so to penalties.

Foran for Darlington – Saved by Cann! 0-0
Burchill scored for the Millers! 1-0
Flynn for Darlington – Saved by Cann! 1-0
Harrison scored for Millers! 2-0
Carole scored for Darlington. 2-1
Hudson scored for the Millers! 3-1
Clarke scored for Darlington. 3-2
Cummins scored for Millers against his old club to make it 4-2 and a game nearer Wembley for the Millers!