Rotherham United 1 Torquay United 1
United produced a battling display to secure a point at Rotherham in their latest League 2 match. Elliot Benyon came off the bench to grab an 86th minute equaliser that pushes United away from the bottom two places in the division.
There were plenty of changes in the Gulls' line-up with form and injury the main cause. Scott Bevan continued in goal after replacing Michael Poke at half-time in last weekend's game against Port Vale, this also meant a place on the bench for youth team 'keeper Mike Searle. Kieran Charnock missed out with a knee injury and was replaced by Chris Robertson and there was also a place in a new look defence for Mark Ellis who took the place of the ill Adam Smith. Jake Thomson & Eunan O'Kane were the other two players to miss out from last week's starting line-up and their places were taken by Tyrone Thompson and new loan signing Lloyd Macklin.
United started positively and inside the first two minutes they almost took the lead when Mark Ellis got on the end of a Nicky Wroe corner and headed toward goal from 12 yards but Warrington in the home goal tipped the ball over. Warrington was again in action this time saving comfortably from a Nicky Wroe shot but it was United who had started the brighter.
There were no early scares for United and Scott Bevan was pretty much redundant as the first fifteen minutes ticked by. Apart from a United goal the start was as good as the Gulls could have hoped for on a pitch that certainly wasn't as player friendly as the surface at Plainmoor.
Eventually, danger came United's way and Scott Bevan was beaten after a shot came through a crowd of players from 25 yards by Harrison but the effort hit the base of the left hand post. Moments later and Adam Le Fondre hit the same section of the upright from 12 yards as United's defence creaked. Despite the two let-offs for the Gulls they fell behind soon after when they failed to deal properly with a weak cross by Law from the right and Harrison stuck a foot out to guide the ball in.
Goal: Rotherham 1 (Harrison 21) United 0
The one thing United dare not do at this stage was concede a second goal and although they didn't test Warrington they looked to have solidified things somewhat after the home side's period of extreme pressure.
Nicky Wroe tested Warrington with a good right foot volley from a Lee Mansell lay-off but the shot was straight at the Rotherham 'keeper and he held the ball comfortably. Both teams were guilty of not holding possession of the ball for long enough and after half an hour you wouldn't have bet against there being more goals in the match with possession being given up too easily on occasion.
With only a single goal separating the teams United were still well in the game and from another Nicky Wroe corner Chris Robertson guided a header narrowly wide of goal as the Gulls gradually crept their way back into the match.
Half-Time: Rotherham 1 United 0
A change at the break for United with Mo Camara not coming out for the second half and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner coming on for his United debut.
The second half began at a rate of knots and Scott Bevan had to save smartly from Ellison to keep the score at 1-0. The home side were enjoying plenty of possession although Ashley Barnes brought a save from Warrington with a 25 yard effort as the Gulls tried to force their way back into the match.
Adam Le Fondre benefited from a quick free-kick taken by Law after a foul by Guy Branston but the Rotherham striker was again denied by the woodwork, this time a lobbed effort hit the top of the crossbar and to safety. Moments later and a free-kick for United by Mark Ellis was headed down by Chris Zebroski and Ashley Barnes found himself 8 yards out but the on-loan Plymouth striker couldn't hit the target and the moment passed.
United were having a good spell as the match moved toward its final quarter but they couldn't quite find that final ball although Rotherham were struggling to clear their lines and were inviting the Gulls to push forward. Bucks made a change at this point with new signing Lloyd Macklin making way for the introduction of Elliot Benyon.
United were getting closer now to an equaliser and Elliot Benyon struck a shot inches over the Rotherham crossbar after some good build-up play but time was running out.
Bucks made his third and final change with eight minutes remaining when Mustapha Carayol came on to replace Tyrone Thompson in a final attacking throw of the dice. It had been a far more offensive display by the Gulls in the second half but goals are everything and United needed one more big effort to try and grab something from the match.
Finally, United's endeavour was rewarded when a throw from Chris Robertson on the right was flicked on by Mark Ellis and from inside the six yard box Elliot Benyon provided a poacher's finish to draw United level.
Goal: Rotherham 1 United 1 (Benyon 86)
United now hard something to cling onto and maybe even press for a winner but the home side were also attempting to push for three valuable points and with four minutes of added time there was enough time for something to give.
In the final moments Rotherham were reduced to ten men when Roberts was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on United left back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner. There wasn't enough time for United to take advantage but the final whistle brought a valuable point.
Final Score: Rotherham 1 United 1
