Shrewsbury Town 1 – 1 Rotherham United
Lloyd (22) Clarke-Harris (70 pen)
Rotherham United salvaged a point from the penalty spot in a pretty dull game this afternoon at the Croud Meadow after falling behind to a twenty-second minute goal.
Like I’ve often started the reports with this season the Millers started the better side despite an early chance for Shrewsbury from Alex Gilliead that Reece James managed to block, the resulting corner easy for Cameron Dawson in the Rotherham goal. Sam Nombe, Jordan Hugill who was wearing the captains armband and Christ Tiehi all won free-kicks as the Millers went forward before an Alex MacDonald cross found Hugill who saw his header cleared by the home defence. Powell was the next player in red and white to win a free-kick which Joe Rafferty took finding Jamie McCart who put the ball over the crossbar. Minutes later a cross into the box from Tiehi found McCart who headed home only to see the linesman’s flag up for offside. Powell was the next to try his luck, again the cross coming in from Tiehi but he saw the ball go the wrong side of the upright. Just two minutes later the hosts took the lead after some nice work between Leo Castledine and Charles Sagoe Junior found Mal Benning out wide he sent the ball into the box for George Lloyd who slotted home from close range. The first booking of the afternoon went to Reece James for taking too long to take a throw-in. Just before the half-hour mark the Shrews might have gone two up when Castledine found himself through on goal with not a defender in sight only to see his shot from just inside the box hit the crossbar and go over for a goal kick. Mallik Wilks was shown the next yellow card for a bit of a silly foul on Carl Winchester, although referee Sam Purkiss didn’t bring the card out until the Shrews players and bench got involved. And it was Wilks who came close on forty minutes after trapping a long ball and sending it towards goal only to see the ball deflected wide before a cross from James was came back to him but he put the ball wide. A free-kick for the Millers in time added on was taken by Powell who found MacDonald the midfielder sending the ball not only high but wide of the post leaving the score at one-nil to the hosts going in at half-time.
The Millers started the second half with two changes Cohen Bramall and Joseph Hungbo on for Reece James and Sam Nombe. In the opening minute the visitors had a chance after substitute Bramall ran down the wing sending the ball in for Jordan Hugill who headed wide. Mallik Wilks lost possession but did well to win the ball back seeing his shot deflected behind for a corner by Morgan Feeney. This was followed by another corner then a free-kick which Hungbo won all coming to nothing. On fifty-five minutes a super pass from Alex MacDonald found Wilks forward with the loanee getting the better of his marker before Morgan Feeney blocked his shot. The hour mark brought two more changes for Rotherham with Jordan Hugill and Alex MacDonald making way for Jonson Clarke-Harris, who took over the captaincy, and Jack Holmes. Another good run down the wing from Bramall saw him cross the ball for Clarke-Harris who would be disappointed to see the ball go wide and not in the net. A change for the hosts saw Jordan Shipley replace Charles Sagoe Junior. With twenty minutes to go a long ball forward from Cameron Dawson eventually found Hungbo who going wide eased past his marker sending the ball into the area which the Shrews defence only cleared as far as Jamie McCart who was trying to bring the ball down when he himself was brought down by a high foot from Mal Benning with Referee Purkiss pointing to the penalty spot and showing a yellow card to the Shrews defender. Clarke-Harris took the ball and placed it on the spot sending it straight down the middle and into the net for the equaliser in front of the eight hundred travelling Millers fans. Changes for the hosts saw Tom Bloxham on for Leo Castledine and a few minutes later Josh Feeney made way for Aaron Pierre while Taylor Perry came on for Carl Winchester. A ball into the box looking for Jordan Shipley saw the Shrews midfielder come short of getting on the end of it before a great tackle from Bramall stopped Bloxham from getting a shot away. A poor challenge on Wilks brought Morgan Feeney a yellow card. As the board went up for an extra five minutes some lovely footwork from Hungbo saw him get past his marker before a defender upended him, Wilks taking the resulting set-piece putting the ball over the crossbar seeing the game end with a point for each team.
To be honest, at times today it was like watching two Rotherham United’s out on the pitch – with neither team really doing much to inspire the crowd. Going into the game a lot of us thought we should win – but I don’t think we actually did enough to win, but then neither did the Shrews. So, a point each was probably a fair result and we try again on Tuesday night for that elusive away win.
Attendance – 6,001 with 814 Millers in the away end
Referee – Sam Purkiss
