Great start for Millers shame about the finish

AFTER setting up the opportunity to have sorted matters out in the first half, Rotherham United suffered another second half fade-out at Millmoor last night.

They eventually exited the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 4-2 on penalties to a Grimsby side who were a totally different proposition after the break to the insipid lot they had been before it.

Talk about a game of two halves!

"The game should have been put to bed by half-time," said Millers boss Mark Robins. "Then we come out in the second half and we just don't start.

"Grimsby have come out and given us a tough game after half-time but we have to cope with it."

Certainly that aspect of it might just be starting to concern Robins because on a few occasions already they have suffered a number of contrasting second half displays to the ones up to half-time.

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Robins, rightly, took the opportunity to 'blood' some young players including the Blades loanees Jamie Annerson and Ryan Cresswell as well as youngster Jamie Yates who certainly had a lively first half wide on the right.

Annerson didn't have a lot to do but did it soundly, including two late saves. He also saved the first penalty. Cresswell, in his favoured centre defence spot, showed strength in the air and was perfectly comfortable on the ball.

Rotherham made by far the better start. Chris O'Grady fired not far wide on the turn and Yates had Phil Barnes diving to save.

Newsham, looking to build on his Mansfield performance, struck a loose ball just over before Rotherham took an 18th minute lead - and a good advantage by referee Nigel Miller played its part.

Danny Harrison was tumbled as the ball went forward, the ref waited and Newsham challenged, got possession and laid the back for O'Grady to rifle a fine 20 yarder into the far corner.

A key moment was Grimsby's 24th minute substitution, big striker Gary Jones going on to make a 4-4-2 formation from the starting 4-5-1 line-up that had offered no threat whatsoever.

The Mariners improved gradually from then on although they needed an excellent clearance from Tom Newey to deny Harrison.

Key miss, too, came when O'Grady sent Peter Holmes clear but as Barnes narrowed the angle, Holmes steered his shot beyond the far post.

Newsham, getting free at the near post, turned an O'Grady cross wide and, at half-time, Rotherham seemed in no great danger.

But five minutes into the second half, following a Rotherham corner, Grimsby broke out with a slick move of outstanding quality.

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More sport.Rotherham were sliced open and Peter Till finished lethally giving Annerson no chance.

Yates had a goalbound shot deflected over by Whittle but Rotherham’s attacking threat this half was minimal.

Grimsby, with Northern Ireland international Ciaran Toner prominent and the confidence of the rest soaring by the minute, began to blossom and they were the team likeliest to win.

Only excellent defending by Dale Tonge and skipper Paul Hurst prevented possible goals.

Annerson turned out a 35 yarder from Toner, saved from sub Andy Taylor and in the last minute, Toner boomed one not far wide from 25 yards.

The transformation in the game had been particularly marked and Grimsby’s slick passing had Rotherham on the back foot as the second half developed.

Unable to mount any sort of sustained attacking themselves, Rotherham found their defensive resolve tested and, thankfully, they were up to it with Ian Sharps excellent.

When it came to penalties (sensibly it’s after 90 minutes in this competition) Grimsby missed out when starting it off, Annerson defying penalty-taking expert Toner.

However, Marc Newsham struck Rotherham’s opening penalty again a post with Barnes going the wrong way.

Tom Newey and Danny Harrison both scored and then after Danny Boshell’s penalty went in off a post, Phil Barnes denied his home-town club when saving from Derek Holmes.

Grimsby duly dispatched their final two penalties rendering the confident strike of Stephen Brogan academic.