Morecambe 2 v 1 Rotherham - Report
A former Miller came back to haunt his old club for the second consecutive game as Morecambe beat ten man Rotherham.
Kevin Ellison popped up with a last-minute winner to clinch victory for the Shrimps after Rotherham captain Johnny Mullins had earlier been sent-off for a last ditch challenge.
Robbie Threlfall had put the hosts ahead in the second half with a fine free-kick before Alex Revell responded through a deflected effort.
Millers boss Steve Evans made four changes from the side that lost to Gillingham on Easter Monday with Mark Bradley, Michael O’Connor, Kieran Agard and Ben Pringle coming in at the expense of Claude Davis, David Noble, Daniel Kearns and top goalscorer Daniel Nardiello.
Rotherham started on the front foot and won their first corner of the game inside the opening two minutes but Pringle’s cross was comfortably dealt with by Barry Roche and his defence.
Rotherham continued their early dominance and an early appeal for a penalty was turned down by the referee. Michael O’Connor made a surging run into the 18-yard box and after he played the ball through to Kieran Agard, the striker went down under pressure.
The Millers had a glorious chance to take the lead after 14 minutes. O’Connor robbed possession deep inside the Morecambe half but his through ball was cut out as Kari Arnason was set to strike from 16 yards.
Pringle had an opportunity to make the breakthrough midway through the first-half but after the ball had been worked to him on the corner of the six-yard box, his shot was blocked as it headed towards the bottom corner.
Evans’ side were in complete control and Lionel Ainsworth saw his effort from the edge-of-the-box go just wide of Barry Roche’s left-hand post, before a succession of corners failed to conjure up a goal.
Jack Redshaw almost made the visitors pay for not taking their chances. The striker beat the offside trap before cutting back onto his favoured right foot and forcing Scott Shearer into a fingertip save.
Ainsworth was causing plenty of problems down the right but he was finding it difficult to pick out either Revell or Agard who were waiting in the middle.
The Millers started the second half in the same manner as they finished the first and Revell tested Roche’s handling skills with an effort from just outside the penalty area.
With 50 minutes on the clock, Rotherham had the best chance of the game. The ball was played over the top for Agard to chase, but after shrugging off the challenge of the defender he lifted his effort over from 10 yards. Seconds later he was made to pay.
Jim Bentley’s side won a free-kick just outside the penalty area and Robbie Threlfall strode up to curl his shot round the wall and into the bottom corner.
The Millers responded and were back on level terms just three minutes later after a big slice of good fortune. Ainsworth unleashed a shot from 25-yards that seemed to be heading wide until it took a deflection off Revell and nestled in the corner of the net.
The game was starting to become stretched and a simple ball over the top caused mayhem in the Rotherham defence. Johnny Mullis dragged back Redshaw as he bore down on goal and was sent-off by the referee for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Threlfall and Alessandra both had good opportunities to make Morecambe’s man advantage count but it was Ellison who got the winner on 90 minutes. He looped his header into the top corner, leaving Shearer with no chance.
Attendance: 2,197 (830)
Morecambe: Roche, Threlfall, Haining (c), Wright, Ellison, McCready, Drummond, Fleming, McDonald, Parrish, Redshaw.
Subs: Arestidou, Alessandra, Williams, Burrow, Mwasile, Doyle, Holroyd.
Rotherham United: Shearer, Bradley, Mullins (c), Morgan, Skarz, Ainsworth, O’Connor, Arnason, Agard, Pringle, Revell.
Subs: Warrington, Tonge, Odejayi, Noble, Kearns, Nardiello.