Smith Goal Beats Plymouth

Plymouth Argyle 0 Rotherham United 1
                                         Smith (63)


This an end-to-end game with both teams guilty of missing chances, the hosts hitting the post in the first half and Freddie Ladapo missing a couple of good chances for Rotherham.

Rotherham United started the game with two changes from the team that beat Morecambe in mid-week with          Richard Wood making way for Joe Mattock, making his two hundredth appearance and Chieo Ogbene in for Jordi Osei-Tutu who are both on the bench.

The Millers had the first chance on four minutes after a great tackle from Michael Smith stopping Macauley Gillesphey getting into a good position the ball finding Shane Ferguson who in turn found former Pilgrim Freddie Ladapo whose shot went just wide into the side-netting. Some more nice work from the visitors saw Ollie Rathbone send the ball to Wes Harding who won a corner which was headed away to safety. Plymouth had a chance at the other end when Danny Mayor tried a dip over Millers’ ‘keeper Josh Vickers from distance with the shot stopper watched it go wide. Ben Wiles won a fifty/fifty ball sending it onto Smith who sent the ball high looking for Ladapo who didn’t get to it. At the other end Jordan Garrick hit the post for the hosts from just yards out before a goal mouth scramble saw both skipper for the day Michael Ihiekwe and Joe Mattock block the ball which finally found it’s way into the arms of Vickers. Danny Meyer was the next to have a chance with the ball swerving away from Vickers and away from the goal for a goal-kick before the same player found himself in plenty of room to have another shot which Vickers did well to get down to and push round the post with the resulting corner coming to nothing. Ladapo got free of his marker and tried a shot which was blocked before Chieo Ogbene also tried a shot that was also blocked. Dan Barlaser saw yellow for a silly challenge on Garrick with the free-kick falling straight into the arms of Vickers who straight away bowled it out for Ogbene the Irish Miller flying down the wing before he won a free-kick for the Millers with Panutche Camara seeing yellow for the foul. The set-piece was blocked but came out to Ben Wiles whose shot on the half-volley from some twenty-five yards out went inches past the upright. Argyle captain Joe Edwards was next to see yellow after he dragged Ferguson back before a lovely pass from Ollie Rathbone found Ladapo who tried a shot which Plymouth ‘keeper Michael Cooper did well to save. Minutes later Rathbone got the ball into the penalty area finding Ferguson who had a good chance which spun towards Cooper to catch before some nice football between the visiting players ended with Ladapo who saw his shot go wide. At the other end a pass from James Wilson found Garrick who saw Vickers coming off his line before seeing his shot from outside the box go wide. On the stroke of half-time Wiles took the ball down the pitch finding Smith with a pass whose shot was blocked by Cooper, the hosts winning the ball back as the whistle went for half-time.

It took a great diving header from Wes Harding in the opening minute of the second half to stop a ball from James Wilson causing problems the header falling to Dan Barlaser who put it, probably needlessly, behind for a corner which Rathbone eventually put out for a throw-in. A chance for the visitors saw a cross from Michael Smith go into the box with neither Barlaser or Freddie Ladapo able to get there. Goalkeeper Michael Cooper had to come out to head to safety before Smith could get to the ball followed by Ryan Hardie getting easily by Michael Ihiekwe who put a lovely pass into the box which Jordan Garrick couldn’t get too. Ben Wiles looked to have been caught with the referee giving nothing before Hardie again left Ihiekwe for dead sending a lovely ball to Garrick who had a great opportunity to score but put his shot past the post. Minutes later from a Millers corner Hardie won the ball with Ollie Rathbone winning it back in midfield and sending it down field. Just before the hour mark Jordan Garrick who had received treatment minutes earlier was replaced by Niall Ennis for the hosts the Millers bringing on Jordi Osei-Tutu and Hakeem Odoffin for Shane Ferguson and Dan Barlaser. On the sixty-third minute the Millers broke the deadlock after some great work from Wiles who drove at the heart of the Plymouth defence before sending the ball to Smith whose unstoppable shot found the bottom corner of the net to give Rotherham the lead. At the other end a Plymouth corner saw Josh Vickers save off the head of Ennis before a Millers corner found Osei-Tutu get a ball to Odoffin who saw his shot from outside the box go high and wide. Jordan Houghton then had a similar shot at the other end with a similar outcome. Harding sent a ball in meant for Ladapo but was easy for Cooper before Ryan Broom replaced Panutche Camara for the hosts. Plymouth had another chance when Hardie again got free of his marker, got himself into a good position but dragged his shot wide when it really should have been the equaliser. Ladapo had another chance but saw his strong shot blocked well by Joe Edwards. On seventy-five minutes Josh Vickers brought off a brilliant save after Hardie cut inside and shot when perhaps he might have passed with the Millers ‘keeper bringing off a fingertip save. Angus MacDonald was the last change for the Millers with Joe Mattock making way. A silly challenge by Rathbone, who got a yellow card, saw Plymouth get a free-kick just outside the box which found the head of James Bolton and into the waiting arms of Vickers. The hosts last change saw Jordan Houghton replaced by Luke Jephcott. After seeing a shot blocked by a defender Osei-Tutu won it back and sent it through for Ladapo who was put off his shot a little by Danny Mayor and the ball ended up in the arms of Cooper. In the final minute of the game Vickers had to be on his mettle again doing well to punch a cross from Broom out which found Conor Grant who saw his shot blocked and sent to safety by Ogbene. In time added on Ladapo was treated after going down injured but had to carry on as the Millers had used all their substitutes. The Millers striker tried to get to a ball but was foiled by a defender who sent it straight to Smith who crossed it back to Ladapo but his shot had no power and was easily stopped by Cooper. After a throw-in Hardie made a nuisance of himself in the box with the Millers having to defend to the end although the flag had gone up for offside. The whistle seconds later was a relief to the visiting Millers fans – and those listening at home.

My first word after this game ended was ‘phew’! It was just one of those games which you could have seen either side winning when probably a draw would have been a fair result.

But, the Millers go marching on and it’s a second away trip of the week on Tuesday when we visit Shrewsbury Town.

Attendance – 14,193

Referee – Will Finnie