Millers Beat Robins

Rotherham United put the ghost of last week`s dismal performance behind them and got back to winning ways yesterday by beating high-fliers Cheltenham Town at the New York Stadium.

Bizarrely the intro to the game was taken over by two men fighting in one corner of the stadium - all legal and above board I might add - before the teams walked out to over six and a half thousand cheers although it wasn`t long before the 'clowns with the flags and whistle` took over.

Just seconds on the clock when a Billy Jones corner was swung into the area for Keith Lowe have the easiest of tasks to put it into the back of the net to shock the Millers faithful into silence. But just three minutes later the home side were back on level terms when debutant Courtney Cameron, on loan from Aston Villa, showed clean heels to Lowe and floated in a lovely ball which missed everyone but Daniel Nardiello who headed in past Scott Brown in the Robins goal. This geed the Millers up and Ben Pringle had a shot at goal which didn`t trouble Brown although the 'keeper had a nervous moment when Lee Frecklington was allowed to get through, leaving the visitors` defence standing, but his fierce drive went just wide of the post. A minute later the Millers went deservedly ahead when A Mark Bradley cross fell to Pringle who looked up and drilled a low effort into the corner of the goal. And they went further ahead on twenty-eight minutes after a Craig Morgan pass was picked up by Nardiello and the striker rounded the 'keeper and put the ball in the net to make it three-one. With the Millers taking over the game it came much against the run of play when a floated ball into the area found Jermaine McGlashan and with Andy Warrington in the Millers` goal looking to pounce, he neatly passed the ball to Chris Zebroski, who looked to all but the ones who mattered in an off-side position, put the ball into the net. Referee Darren Sheldrake looked at the linesman (who hadn`t got a decision right all first half) and not seeing a flag gave the goal but to the annoyance of the fans in the Ben Bennett Stand.

The second half began with the same tempo as the first and Frecklington did well to firstly dispossess Marlon Pack then dance through the visitors midfield and was unlucky when he over ran the ball a little and Billy Jones put it away to safety. Mr Sheldrake, who was actually spoiling a good game of football with his nigglely ways, got himself involved when he accidently pushed the Robins` Darren Carter as he chased a loose ball with both ending on the floor. Good work again from the impressive Cameron saw Alex Revell just fail to get on the end of his cross while moments later Revell got a good ball to Nardiello but the Welshman chipped just over with Brown stranded. Nardiello was on hand a few minutes later to have a snap shot which Brown was equal too but the Robins 'keeper made a smart save after a shot from Frecklington took a wicked deflection. A bit more controversy followed when Frecklington was tripped just inside the area by Steve Elliott and with everyone in the ground except the three hundred travelling support and the officials expecting a penalty the referee shook his head. In the final fifteen minutes Sam Deering, on for McGlashan, put in a super cross for Jeff Goulding, on for Russell Penn, who flicked on to former Millers loanee Shaun Harrad, on for Kaid Mohammed, but his effort was blocked by Ian Sharps. Deering himself had a shot moments later but saw it go wide before the Millers made sure of the three points when Pringle threaded the ball through to Frecklington who in turn slid the ball home to make it four-two to the Millers.
A highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable game at the NYS yesterday which saw the Millers deservedly take all three points and climb up to eighth place.

In a good way it's difficult to choose! I have to mention Ian Sharps who played a proper captains role yesterday. Ben Pringle did well too and, although I thought he had a poor first half, Jason Taylor moved into the back four in the second half and impressed me. Lee Frecklington was the sponsors Man of the Match and he had a brilliant game but I think I am going to give it to teenager COURTNEY CAMERON who showed us he had pace, was good at crosses and yet did well when tracking back

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco