United 0 Rotherham United 1
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Man of the Match: Adam Smith
Frustration; that was the main emotion at the end of a match that United somehow lost 2-0 after dominating for large periods. Two late goals did for the Gulls and they will look back on plenty of possession and enough chances to have taken what would probably have been a winning lead.
Bucks was forced into two changes after the failed appeal of Kieran Charnock's red card last weekend and an injury to skipper Chris Hargreaves so Mark Ellis returned to the starting line-up along with Nicky Wroe. The other three changes he made were to allow the introduction of the two new signings and a tactical change in attack; Chris Zebroski came in for Jake Thomson who dropped to the bench and full back Adam Smith came straight into the action at left back at the expense of Kevin Nicholson who accompanied Thomson on the bench while Elliot Benyon came in to partner Tim Sills with Danny Stevens also taking a spot in the dug-out.
The game started in pretty horrendous conditions with a strong wind and driving rain but thanks to the good preparation work of groundsman Scott Duff the match was never in doubt. Immediately the quality of Adam Smith was evident for all to see and he rarely dropped the levels that have earned him a professional contract at Tottenham Hotspur.
The first attempt at goal came from Elliot Benyon in the tenth minute when he hit a strong shot from twenty yards but Warrington in the visitor's goal made a smart save low down to his left. Shortly afterward and United broke down the left before Tyrone Thompson hit a shot just wide of the left hand post, also from the twenty yard mark.
United were very positive from the start and after the opening quarter they were well on top in both possession and the physical battle. Zebroski almost made a dream return with a shot that brought a good save from Warrington and with Smith excelling both in defence and attack things were looking very encouraging but, United hadn't managed to score.
Nicky Wroe picked up a booking in the 23rd minute and the match, somewhat understandably considering the conditions, started to become a slightly scrappier affair. Rotherham hadn't provided too much goal threat but a team as high as they are in League 1 must have plenty going for it and Le Fondre gave a glimpse of the danger when he shot inches wide of Michael Poke's right hand upright.
Even with that Rotherham threat being well marshalled by the Gulls' defence the fact that United couldn't find a way through the visitor's own back line was something that would come back to haunt them later.
Half-Time: United 0 Rotherham 0
No changes at the break and in a reversal of the opening period it was Michael Poke who was under pressure. The in-form United 'keeper made an excellent double save after failing to deal with a Rotherham corner as the visitor's looked to get out of the blocks quickly.
Zebroski went close again with another long range shot which fizzed narrowly wide of goal and Warrington produced a good tip over from a well directed Tim Sills header after the United striker and captain for the day got on the end of a fine Nicky Wroe right wing cross. Elliot Benyon made way for Jake Thomson just after the hour and the United winger gave his marker, Mark Lynch a torrid time.
With twenty-five minutes remaining United came closest to scoring when Zebroski got free down the left and pulled the ball back to Thomson but his shot was saved, from the rebound Wroe crossed the ball back in and Thomson this time got a head to the ball but Warrington pulled of a superb one handed save low down to push the ball round the post for a corner.
Wayne Carlisle hit the Rotherham crossbar with a marvellous technical effort from twenty yards but, without meaning to sound negative, it might as well of hit the corner flag because United need to make the pressure tell and open the scoring.
The rain had eased, slightly, and both sides clearly thought that the match was there for the taking. After so much hard work it was a shame that the opening goal came from some slack defending by the Gulls. A free-kick on the Rotherham right was hit deep and won by Sharps who headed the ball back across the six yard box where it evaded Chris Robertson and was met by Le Fondre. The Rotherham striker must have thought he had scored with his header but Poke produced an excellent reflex save with his feet, sadly though, the United defence was stood watching as Ellison charged in and smashed the ball past Poke to open the scoring.
Goal: United 0 Rotherham 1 (Ellison 84)
It was tough on United but they made an immediate change with Sills making way for Scott Rendell in a bid to shake things up but time was running out. Tyrone Thompson had a good chance with a header from a Wroe corner and Danny Stevens was brought on at the death but there was a sting in the tail. It wasn't a breakaway goal but United were looking to press forward and for once the marking was missing as Rotherham's second goal killed the contest in the fourth minute of added on time. A quick ball down the line and a pass into Le Fondre ended with the striker finishing very tidily, chipping the ball over Poke.
Goal: United 0 Rotherham 2 (Le Fondre 90 + 4)
Full Time: United 0 Rotherham 2
There was rightly plenty of applause at the end of the match for United who had given everything but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. There is a big away week ahead of the Gulls with trips to Port Vale and Stockport County but these games are perfectly winnable and there were plenty of positives to take from this match despite the defeat.
