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Furlong double puts Millers out of races - MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
Barnet 2 Rotherham United 0 YOU could say the Millers fell at the final hurdle. That the last two furlongs proved too much!
Tantalisingly close to equalling the club record of six successive away wins last achieved in 1950, they lost out to a player nearly as old!
Paul Furlong, now 40 and a half, may be the Methuslah of League Two but he showed you don't lose the goal knack.
In a defence-dominated match which was long on effort and endeavour but short of chances, Furlong provided the sort of skill and clinical finishing which puts teams in the winner's enclosure.
Two late goals took his career league tally to 199 and brought Rotherham's second defeat in 14. When Barnet won at the DVS in October, it was only the second defeat in 15.
Not long after I'd been thinking that Barnet might contentedly take a point if offered one as Rotherham kept pressing them going down the slope, Furlong produced that moment of skill and inspiration that is no doubt a legacy of his days in the top flight.
There were 20 minutes left when he received the ball inside the area with his back to goal and Ian Sharps tight behind him. A feint, an adroit turn, smartly 'doing' Sharps as he did so, and then a calm finish beyond the exposed Andy Warrington.
There was still plenty of time left for Rotherham but it was one of those moments when you just knew that it was match-defining.
It was the sort of inspirational skill which unlocks defences but which Rotherham never really looked like providing. They needed someone to produce something extra but no one could.
One couldn't fault Rotherham's effort. It was there.
It was a 10th game in 32 days but they didn't suggest it was a game too far and not quite put it in. It was just that they couldn't find the bit extra.
Neither Reuben Reid, named League Two Player of the Month, nor Mark Burchill could unhinge Barnet and Reid was particularly quiet in the second half.
Drewe Broughton toiled, the midfield was industrious and won no end of possession. But there was no one who could open things up or set up real opportunities against a willing home side who had another veteran, Gary Breen, 35, using all his nous and experience at the back to nullify them.
It served to emphasise that even though they've just won five on the trot away, how difficult it is to win away games.
Barnet never had the attacking momentum Luton generated or the sort of threat Aldershot posed but they worked hard to combat the Millers and succeeded.
Rotherham were restricted to shots from outside the area in the first half apart from a Broughton effort on the turn. Reid's reaction after shooting at the keeper from 20 yards after making space, indicated he felt he should have done better.
But there were no real chances and only one hurried save, Warrington turning out a header from John O'Flynn. Nick Fenton made a vital tackle on Adam Birchall.
Rotherham's best chance was on 52 minutes. Marc Joseph's long ball saw indecision by Kenny Gillet, Broughton got in behind him but his toe-poke diverted off keeper Jake Cole.
Good saves by Cole from Broughton and Warrington from the always-threatening Albert Adomah came within a minute of each other but defences reigned until Furlong's 70th minute deadlock breaker and Barnet sensed the win that would all but assure their safety.
Broughton and Sharps had efforts before Rotherham were finished off with nine minutes left. Devera won back a ball he shouldn't have, Adomah delivered a telling centre and Furlong's eyes probably lit up as he got ahead of Sharps to direct his header in.
A hat-trick goal would have followed but for Fenton deflecting his shot over - but Barnet didn't need it.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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