Michael Smith, back in the North East, it just had to be him, didn’t it?
Having grown up just 30 miles further north in Newcastle, the striker was back in familiar territory and with the incentive of a trip to Wembley on the line, delivered for his team when it mattered.
Smith made it 24 for the season with two headed goals in the second half, cancelling out efforts from Joe Grey and Luke Molyneaux to take the game to penalties.
‘Smudge’ then dusted himself down to convert the Millers’ first spot-kick, before Viktor Johansson saved from Molyneaux and when Tom Crawford missed for Pools, it gave Mickel Miller to chance to book the Millers a fifth visit to Wembley in the Papa Johns Trophy final and he duly accepted.
On a night where everyone played their part, Smith was crowned by supporters with 46.8% of the 1,365 votes cast.
🏆 | Vote and retweet to be in with a chance of winning a free beanie hat from @TerraceThreads!#rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud
— Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) March 9, 2022
Background
This poll is supported by our friends at PA Entertainments and Terrace Threads.
PA Entertainments have been long-term supporters of the football club and were hailed for their recent work which involved them lighting up the AESSEAL New York Stadium in the colours of the NHS and more recently, with the image of a poppy for Armistice Day.
Supporters may be aware that we recently welcomed Terrace Threads on-board, who took up the option of sponsoring our newly-produced ‘Goal Gifs’ for the duration of the 2021/22 campaign.
Following discussions between the two parties, they have collaborated to give supporters an added incentive to vote for our Twitter Man of the Match Poll, with fans who cast a vote and retweet our social media poll automatically entered into a prize draw to win a Beanie Hat from Terrace Threads.
The PA Entertainments Man of the Match and the lucky winner of the Beanie Hat will be revealed on a Monday morning following a Saturday fixture or midday on the day after a midweek fixture.
The next opportunity for supporters to pick their Man of the Match is on Saturday, when the Millers travel to Adams Park to take on Wycombe Wanderers.