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Le Fondre's winner
Rotherham United 1 Lincoln City 0
YOU can change the competition but it doesn't often make much difference, Adam Le Fondre can pop up anytime, anywhere, to put the ball in the net.
The scourge of Lincoln in the past couple of seasons, he claimed his sixth goal of the season two minutes after the break as the Millers put some second half gloss onto the first half matt to deservedly progress into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The goal advantage allowed Rotherham to go on and play with some real assurance and they stitched together some relaxed and impressive stuff which was worthy of a goal or two more as they knocked the ball around with confidence.
Ronnie Moore didn't make as many changes as expected or that he had intimated but there was a first start for Jeremiah Ani and a first game for Johnny Mullins at right back whilst Jamie Annerson got a rare start in goal.
Otherwise it was the line-up which won at Hereford which meant Moore had shelved the decision he was pondering - to rest Le Fondre.
Ellison's low 25 yard free-kick was the first threat and had Anyon diving low to push it away. Lincoln's response was a sharp shot on the turn from Andrew Hutchinson which wasn't far over but they might have been even closer but for a tenacious piece of work by Ellison who got a vital challenge in on Ben Hutchinson when he burst into the area.
Mullins settled very nicely indeed, looking comfortable on the ball whilst Ani had to wait a while for meaningful involvement but showed a turn of pace which required a desperate last ditch tackle to halt - at the expense of an injury for the striker which needed treatment.
He was willing throughout and worked hard until he was replaced by Saturday's matchwinner Paul Warne in the second half.
With no league pressure, both sides tried to play and the Millers put some probing passing together but found the Imps back in numbers as they looked to avenge that opening day defeat on August 7.
Le Fondre, victim of some early 'attention' on three occasions volleyed an effort over but neither keeper had much to really worry them by half-time.
That changed in the 47th minute. Tom Newey did well on the left, found Le Fondre just outside the area and his effort got a deflection on its way past Anyon.
Then Cresswell was close to one of the goals of the season. Staying up after a set-piece, he pulled down a long ball from Newey with some aplomb, stepped inside and fired his left footer just wide.
At the final whistle, it was clean sheet delight for keeper Annerson in a rare start.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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