Millers Win but Cress Injury puts dampers on it

Rotherham United striker, Adam Le Fondre, struck five minutes before half-time to give the Millers all three points against Aldershot this afternoon at Don Valley. But most people`s thoughts will be with Skipper, Ryan Cresswell, who was stretchered off on sixty-six minutes with what looks like a broken collar bone.

The visitors started well and Wade Small and Marvin Morgan linked up well together and Andy Warrington was forced into a good save to tip over the bar from Ben Harding, with the Millers defence in disarray. On ten minutes Le Fondre leaped into the air to head a ball that went inches over the bar. Minutes later Johnny Mullins stuck out a foot and collected a ball meant for a Shots midfielder, got it to Marcus Marshall who ran down the wing and put in a good cross for Mullins but the former Stockport defender couldn`t control the header and it went wide. Ryan Cresswell came close to putting the Millers in front but his header was just too high while, at the other end, Morgan, always a threat, curled a shot round Warrington`s upright. On twenty-five minutes, Jason Taylor got the ball to striker, Ryan Taylor who`s shot from twenty yards out lifted just over the bar with 'keeper Jamie Young stood watching, well beaten. Then, on the half-hour mark, the Shots were awarded a penalty by referee Sutton, who was having a poor game, when Ben Herd fell to the floor after brushing past loaner, Will Atkinson, who was making his debut for the Millers today. Wade Small stepped up, sent Warrington the wrong way but the ball hit the post and rebounded to safety. Minutes later Luke Guttridge took a free-kick that whistled past Warrington`s goal. Then, on forty minutes, Marshall did well to keep the ball down and ride a late challenge down the right side and with the referee waving play on, he got the ball into the six yard box to the unmarked Le Fondre, and, as we all know, Alfie doesn`t miss from there. A bit of handbags took place between Cresswell and Morgan just before half-time which, strangely, ended with Anthony Straker of the Shots being cautioned.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Harding delivered a free-kick from twenty yards out which Warrington could only parry away as far as Morgan but the tall striker couldn`t get the ball past the Millers 'keeper. Young tipped over a header from Nick Fenton and, from the resulting corner, a Cresswell header was also brilliantly saved by Aldershot`s` 'keepers fingertips. On the hour mark Marshall did well to intercept a ball and went on a mazy run down the pitch, shrugged off a weak challenge from a visiting defender but his shot went straight into Young`s arms. But on sixty-six minutes the Millers were dealt a blow when Cresswell was carried of and had to be replaced by Luke Ashworth and the sub was soon in action when he made a good challenge to stop Morgan shooting on the edge of the six yard box. Aldershot seemed to get their second wind and only a header off the line by Mullins stopped Straker from getting the equaliser. Le Fondre nearly got a second for the Millers when Young did well to stop Ryan Taylor getting his foot to the ball but it seemed to bounce out of his arms and, choosing to kick at it, hit the ball against Le Fondre but it rebounded wide. In the dying minutes, Marshall, who had had Jamie Vincent in his pocket for most of the game, and the former Crystal Palace left-back upended the Millers winger and was shown a second yellow and sent for an early bath. Due to the lengthy injury to Cresswell, their were six additional minutes added in the last of these, Ryan Taylor found himself free, ran at goal and hesitating for a minute, gave Young time to get down and save his shot with his legs.

Three welcome points for Ronnie Moore`s men today, but I think all our thoughts will be with Ryan Cresswell, who looks like he is in for a lengthy lay off.

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