Hartlepool United 2 Rotherham United 2*
Grey (29) Smith (50, 63)
Molyneux (55)
*Rotherham win on pens
Rotherham United booked their ticket to Wembley despite Ben Killip in the Hartlepool goal trying his best to stop them.
It was a frantic start to the game with both sides wanting to win with both Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Jordin Osei-Tutu seeing moves into the box foiled before some great work from Michael Smith saw him set up Tolaji Bola who saw his shot saved by Killip. Dan Barlaser was the next to set-up the former Arsenal man who saw the ball go inches past the upright. At the other end Omar Bogle was immediately shut down by the Millers when he looked like causing a problem with David Ferguson getting enough space to have a shot which went wide. Bola was causing problems for the home side and a ball into the box found Ben Wiles who came close to finding the opening goal. The first yellow card of the night went to Millers skipper Richard Wood who might think himself lucky after appearing to take out Joe Grey with an high arm followed minutes later by a warning from referee Robert Madley after a home player went down with Woods looking to be the culprit. Just before the half-hour mark ‘Pools went ahead from a free-kick after a curling David Ferguson free-kick with the Millers playing a high-line and three home players being off-side Grey timed his run perfectly and put the ball into the net to give the hosts the lead. A late challenge on Jamie Lindsay saw Neill Burne booked and the Millers player replaced by Mickel Miller while Edmonds-Green will think himself lucky after he sent Bogle tumbling to only see a yellow when it looked to many people that he was the last man. An early change for the visitors saw Jamie Lindsay replaced by Mickel Miller. As the half was coming to an end a cross from Tom Crawford found Luke Molyneux whose shot seemed destine to be the second goal until the strong arm of Viktor Johansson in the Rotherham goal put the ball behind. The Millers won a corner of their own in time added on taken by Miller but was an easy claim for Killip. As the clock was running down a poor challenge by Jordi Osei-Tutu on Grey saw him the next player to see yellow.
The Millers started the second half with Michael Ihiekwe and Ollie Rathbone on for Richard Wood and Hakeem Odoffin. Tolaji Bola started the half well bringing Michael Smith into play who saw his shot go inches past the upright before Mickel Miller went on a good run and won a free-kick in a just outside the box after being bundled over by Jamie Sterry. The ball was put in by Dan Barlaser finding the head of Smith who planted the ball into the top of the net for the equaliser. More great work from Miller saw him swerve one way then the other to get into the box before being bundled over with nothing being given. Just five minutes after the Rotherham goal the hosts went back in front after a lucky ricochet off Edmonds-Green saw the ball fall to Luke Molyneux who got the ball past Johansson with Ihiekwe trying to keep it out and possibly helped it over the line. After some good work from Bola saw him put the ball into the area for Smith a Hartlepool defender got there first and almost looped it into his own net before a shot from distance from Barlaser saw the ball hit the crossbar and go over. On the hour mark another change for the Millers saw Chieo Ogbene on for Tolaji Bola. Minutes later the Millers had equalised for the second time with Miller getting the ball to Ogbene who crossed the ball into the middle where Smith rose above everyone else and headed home. At the other end a great save from Johansson saw the ball fall to Omar Bogle who, probably put off by Miller, shot wide in front of an open goal while a good save at the other end from Ben Killip stopped a cross from the lively Miller reaching Smith in space. And the Millers – and Smith – might have had three after a superb ball from Barlaser from the half-way line found the Millers striker only for him to put the ball across goal and out. Crawford had a chance to put the hosts back in front when a good ball from Bogle found him but he put his shot over. A cross from Ogbene came close to finding Miller in the box before a cross-cum-shot from Edmonds-Green had Killip scrambling across his goal line with the ball ending on the top of the net. More good work from Miller saw him find Osei-Tutu who set up Rathbone with the midfielder seeing his shot well saved by Killip. Hartlepool’s first change of the night came with just five minutes to go with Joe Grey being replaced by Marcus Carver. A poor header back by Edmonds-Green saw the ball fall to Bogle who decided to shoot from distance with the ball going over the crossbar which was followed by a fantastic save by Killip after Osei-Tutu had sent a super ball through for Ihiekwe to shoot. A final change for the visitors saw Shane Ferguson on for Osei-Tutu with the referee blowing the whistle just seconds later and the tie went to penalties.
Penalties
Featherstone for Hartlepool – scored
Smith for the Millers – scored
Sterry is the next for the hosts – scored
Millers sub Ferguson gets his first kick of the game – scored
Hartlepool send in Shelton – scored
Barlaser steps up for the Millers and hits it straight down the middle – scored
Molyneux is next for ‘Pools – saved by Johansson
The Millers send in Wiles – Killip pushed it onto post – saved
Up comes Bogle for the hosts – scored
MacDonald is next for the visitors – scored
Hartlepool’s next taker is Crawford – Missed
Miller steps up – scored and the Millers are off to Wembley
On balance, it was the right result after a tie which had seen Rotherham’s relentless pressure in the last twenty minutes thwarted by the Pools ‘keeper Killip.
Another Wembley trip for Rotherham!
