Rotherham United snatched a dramatic late winner after Nicky Law struck in injury time to secure a 2-1 win for the Millers against 10 man Port Vale.
Ronnie Moore made one change to the side, Paul Warne replaced Danny Harrison, with Law switching to central midfield. Drewe Broughton kept his place in the team, starting alongside Adam Le Fondre in attack.
Broughton played a part in the Millers first attack within a minute collecting a Andy Nicholas throw and finding Le Fondre who laid off to Dale Tonge, but his shot from the right was deflected for a corner. Just two minutes later and Kevin Ellison also tried his luck from distance but his effort was narrowly wide after catching Lee Collins on the way through.
Despite having the lion's share of possession the Millers backline had to be alert. Andy Warrington rushing off his line when Nick Fenton's header was short, and captain Ian Sharps intercepting a Adam Yates pass which would have put Marc Richards through on goal.
Kris Taylor and Ellison both had efforts that sailed high and wide on 10 minutes. It turned out to be Ellison's last piece of action as he was replaced by Stephen Brogan on 15 minutes after picking up a knock in a challenge with Lewis Haldane.
The Millers first clear cut chance of the game came on 25 minutes. Substitute Brogan hit a searching free-kick from halfway that was headed down by Sharps, and Fenton's resulting volley was well held by Chris Martin.
Martin was on hand again just before the half-hour tipping over Le Fondre's long range effort. The Vale 'keeper was eventually beaten two minutes later, Tonge's cross was attacked at the back post by Brogan who beat Broughton and two Vale defenders to the ball to head home his first league goal of the season and give the Millers a deserved lead.
The lead lasted just five minutes however, as the home side worked a free-kick down the right before Yates' cross found Prosser at the far post unmarked, and the big centre-half headed past Warrington to level the scores.
Controversy ensued late in the half as Fenton was brought down by Prosser as he tried to clear a corner. After a tussle which involved several players from either side, Fenton, Prosser and Richards all went into the book. Three minutes were added on and when Le Fondre was pulled back on halfway, the referee awarded a free-kick to the Millers and gave Prosser his second booking in a matter of minutes and reduced Port Vale to 10 men. The half-time whistle went to a chorus of boos from the home support.
After an exciting finish to the first period, the chances began to dry up in the second half but it could have been a different story if Broughton or Fenton had got on the end of Brogan's cross in the 55th minute.
Rotherham were almost punished three minutes later as Nicholas misjudged a long ball through the middle allowing Richards in, and his effort was lifted over Warrington but drifted inches wide, silencing the premature cheers of the Vale fans.
Sharps had a header blocked at the far post before Kris Taylor volleyed high and wide from a Richards knock-down. With 20 minutes remaining Law picked the ball up on halfway and beat two men before cutting back onto his right foot and curling just wide from the edge of the area.
Tom Pope was introduced for Broughton and the Millers continued to press despite Vale's resilience. With four minutes added on, Law burst into the area and cut back for Warne, but his side-footed shot didn't trouble Martin as it sailed wide.
It appeared that the Millers best chance had gone until deep into stoppage time when Warne slipped in Law whose left -footed shot beat Martin and gave Rotherham United a much needed three points in the quest for promotion.
Port Vale: Martin, Griffith, McCombe, Prosser, Richards, Fraser, Yates, Dodds, K.Taylor, Collins, Haldane (R.Taylor 87).
Subs not used: Anyon, Howland, Loft, Jarrett, Glover, Guy.
Millers: Warrington, Tonge, Sharps, Fenton, Nicholas, Warne, Mills, Law, Ellison (Brogan 15), Broughton (Pope 72), Le Fondre.
Subs not used: Annerson, Lynch, Haggerty, Harrison, R.Taylor.
Attendance 4788, Away 350
Report: Ben Shepherd
The Millers Match report is brought to you in association with The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
