Millers Lose on Penalties

Rotherham United went out of the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy on penalties after, once again, letting a lead slip. A Chris O`Grady goal in the eighteenth minute put the home side into a deserved lead before Peter Till got the equaliser five minutes into the second half at a wet Millmoor tonight.

The Mariners must have felt themselves lucky going into the break only one down after the Millers had had chance after chance to put the game out of their reach. Jamie Yates had a shot parried away by Philip Barnes, Marc Newsham saw a shot from twelve yards out just go over the bar and a minute later Marcus Bean had a shot blocked by Danny Boshell while Barnes easily saved from O`Grady. The goal wasn`t long in coming when Newsham laid the ball onto O`Grady from the edge of the area and O`Grady shot past a flaying Barnes into the top corner. Newsham had another effort cut out by Newey and Peter Holmes should have scored when he found himself one-on-one with Barnes but scuffed his shot just wide. Really, the home side should have had this game over and done with before the half-time whistle.

Whatever manager, Alan Buckley, said to the visitors at half-time seem to work as they came out fighting winning a string of corners before Till put in the equaliser. From a Rotherham corner, Till got hold of the ball, played it to Ciaran Toner, got it back and unchallenged raced into the box and slid the ball under Jamie Annerson making his Millers debut in goal. Toner then saw a shot go just over and Paul Bolland had a shot turned away for a corner. Grimsby almost took the lead when Tom Newey tried to set up substitute Gary Jones, but he couldn`t quite get his head to the ball. With the both sets of supporters urging their teams on Toner, Till and Newey all had shots deflected late on in the game as the Millers struggled to mount an attack and the game ended in the dreaded penalty shoot out.

The penalties were taken at the Tivoli end of the ground with Grimsby going first and Annerson got down low and saved Toners kick. Newsham stepped up for the Millers and his shot hit the post while Newey scored for the visitors. Danny Harrison scored the next penalty to make it 1-1 and Boshell made it 1-2 when his shot went in off the post. Derek Holmes stepped up but his shot was saved by Barnes while Andy Taylor scored for Grimsby - 1-3. Stephen Brogan hit his shot into the top of the net to make it 2-3 but up stepped Till to put the Mariners into the next round.

Once again, a game of two halves for the Millers - and a game of missed opportunities. It`s got to be better on Friday.

I am going to start asking for a man of the match at half time from people because I was greeted with blank stares when I asked after the game. So, just for the effort put in in the first half it has to go to IAN SHARPS

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