Scott’s first game ends in stalemate

Rotherham United missed a great opportunity to move up the table in a frustrating afternoon at Don Valley against Hereford. With most of the other sides round and about the Millers in the table, a win would have put them a place above going into the busy Easter programme.

In the opening fifteen minutes the Millers saw shots from Ryan Taylor and Nicky Law go wide and a Tom Pope shot well blocked when it looked like it was going into the net. Jamie Annerson was soon in the action when a long ball from Stefan Stam found former Forest Green striker, Stuart Fleetwood and with the Millers young ‘keeper coming to the edge of his box he just stopped Fleetwood from nipping in and netting the first goal. On twenty minutes a good pass from Pope found Ryan Taylor and when it looked like Taylor would score up popped Michael Townsend to put the ball behind. From the resulting corner, skipper, Ryan Cresswell, saw a firm header cleared off the line. On the half hour mark, it was Cresswell again who got the ball from a Tom Newey long throw but saw his header go just wide of the upright. Seven minutes later Law fired in a shot and when Bulls ‘keeper, Adam Bartlett, grasped and missed, Ryan Taylor was there to fire in a powerful shot. Bartlett then redeemed himself by making the first of a string of really good saves. Five minutes from half-time, Hereford had two corners, the first taken by Joe Heath that Cresswell managed to head behind and the second from James McQuilkin was cleared by Jason Taylor. In time added on, a Kenny Lunt corner found Stam`s head but he saw the ball go just wide of the right-hand post.

The Millers had lots of possession in the second half but without getting anything for it. It was on the hour mark before a Bartlett had anything to do. A Law corner found Nick Fenton but the defenders header went straight into the arms of the visiting ‘keeper. Five minutes later Fenton was in the action again when a ball from Ryan Taylor found him but his shot was cleared by Stam. At the other end Steven Leslie saw a shot go wide and a shot from McQuilkin went just over the bar. The Millers were seeing more and more of the ball and Cresswell had a shot saved by Bartlett. Rotherham were given a scare on seventy minutes when a shot from Joe Colbeck smashed against the upright. The Millers were unlucky in the final ten minutes when a headed ball into the six yard area from Law found Adam Le Fondre, on for Bradley, but his effort was saved by Bartlett. Before the whistle went for full time Ryan Taylor saw a shot pushed behind for a corner and a header cleared off the line.

A lot of effort by the Millers today and I don`t know why we weren`t four up going into half-time to be honest, so a point was just a bit of a disappointing result. There`s still a chance of the play-offs, though, I do feel it is a slim chance