Heartbreak

Rotherham v Shrewsbury. New York stadium. Sat 18th Nov. 1-2

Disclaimer - Due to the afformenioned heartache, this blogpost was written two weeks after the event. 

Shrewsbury came to the New York top of the table and sporting a Millers legend as manager. Paul Hirst made over 500 appearances as a player during the glory days of Ronnie Moore and was much loved. Indeed, he played in one of our greatest games ever, the 1996 Wembley win in the Auto Windscreens final. Vs Shrewsbury. But all’s fair in love and football. He did receive a wonderful reception from the faithful though.

Hirsty in happier times

His management style was to lump it forward, fall down and scream if a rotherham player is in the vicinity and waste as much time as possible. Standard league one stuff. 

We started Well, Keiffer* winning a ‘penalty’ early on. Our first one for ages, and the type that is so not a penalty it makes you cringe. As per the rules of football though, a penalty that should never be a penalty is invariably not converted. Moore* stepped up and hit it straight at the keeper. Karma restored. 

Also as per the rules of football, shrewsbury went down the other end and, helped by a slip from one of our ‘defenders!’ And some skill, scored. 0-1. It stayed that way till half time.

Shrewsbury started the second half as they had ended the first, wasting time and falling over. Not a good look on a team that’s top of the league. But then, a lifeline. A skirmish on the touch line led to a sending off for a Shrew. Surely we could salvage something against 10 men. Indeed a smart move led to a smart finish for Ritchie Towell. 

1-1 and the Millers in the ascendency. Warne decided to go for broke and bring on another attacking player in JCH. He also took off Wood* This meant that we had a defence consisting of Vaulkes; a midfielder, Mattock; a hot head, and Ayaji; never even been a footballer. I was worried. We pressed and pressed, the shrews shrieked and rolled around. Eventually someone gave the ball away in midfield, the keystone kops ran around like headless chickens and Ayaji* managed to fumble the ball out for a corner while in no danger. It was inevitable that our defence contrived to allow Shrewsbury to score. A Mr Payne would you believe. 90 +5 And 1-2 vs 10 men. Heartache indeed.

Man of the match

Ian - wood (in my defence it’s so long ago Icant remember, ian) 

Jackie - Towell

Vicky- (Shrewsbury? I can’t even remember playing Wigan!)

Next up, second in the league Wigan

*see previously documented Marcus Marshall conundrum