FULL TIME FROM MILLMOOR
ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 (Brogan 88)
BARNSLEY 1 (Nyatanga 75)
LEWIN Nyatanga almost enjoyed a dream start to life back at Oakwell as his header gave the Reds a second half lead but they were pegged back by Rotherham's late rally.
Simon Davey named a strong looking side with Lewin Nyatanga and Miguel Mostto in the starting eleven after coming off the bench against Buxton last night. Trialist Dennis Souza was also included from the start.
It was a much changed Rotherham side from the team that crashed out of League One last season and the Millers included ex-Red Dale Tonge in their starting eleven
Despite some early Reds pressure it was the Millers who went closest to opening the scoring on five minutes as Stephen Brogan's corner fizzed across the box and a yard in front of Graham Coughlan's outstretched leg.
The Reds responded with Rob Atkinson swinging a dangerous ball into the box on seven minutes but the bounce evaded Kayode Odejayi and Mostto as the Millers managed to clear.
Rotherham went close on ten minutes as Derek Holmes crossed well from the left to give Peter Holmes a free header eight yards out but the Millers midfielder could only put his effort high over the bar. A minute later Peter Holmes was again in the thick of the action as his free kick from the left beat everybody but dropped a yard wide of the post.
At the other end Ricketts managed to test Andy Warrington on 12 minutes as his dangerous cross looked to be heading for Odejayi at the back post but the veteran keeper manager to claw the ball away to safety.
Ricketts was the creator on 18 minutes as he crossed well from the left but Odejayi could only head the ball into the back of a defender and through to Warrington.
Brian Howard found his passing range in fine fashion on 20 minutes as he threaded the ball 40 yards through the Rotherham defence to send Mostto clean through but the Peruvian international could only fire wide with Warrington to beat. Mostto then tried the outrageous on 21 minutes as he spotted Warrington off his line and let fly from 50 yards but the Rotherham keeper managed to get back in time to make the save.
Substitute Ryan Taylor almost made an immediate impact for the Millers just three minutes after coming onto the pitch as he latched onto a hopeful punt forward and managed to round Nick Colgan but lashed the ball into the side netting with an empty goal to aim at. Taylor then managed to get the better of Souza on the half hour and had a clear sight of goal but could only find the stand with a well-struck drive.
The Millers got through again as Andy Johnson's bad back pass gave O'Grady a chance but Nyatanga managed to get in and make a vital block. Andy Todd was next to try his luck for the Millers and he managed to force Colgan into a low save on 36 minutes after letting fly from the edge of the area. Peter Holmes then fired a yard or so over the bar on 41 minutes as the home side pressed for the opener.
Odejayi did get the ball into the back of the net a minute later as he pounced from close range to beat Warrington after Martin Devaney had flicked the ball into the area but the strike was ruled out for offside.
Surprisingly, the Reds only made one change at the break with Kyle Letheren starting the second half in goal although more substitutions were planned as another nine players warmed up on the sidelines.
Again it was the Millers who threatened first after the break with O'Grady turning Rob Atkinson well before firing high over on 49 minutes. Todd then bundled his way into a shooting position on 53 minutes but saw his shot striker Dominik Werling and bounced through to Letheren.
Ricketts and Mostto then combined brilliantly at the other end on 56 minutes to cut through the heart of the Millers' back line but the ball was cleared off the line although the offside flag was raised.
The Millers went close to breaking the deadlock on 63 minutes as Coughlan managed to get between Nyatanga and Souza to meet Peter Holmes' cross but his header hit the sidenetting. Mark Hudson then should have done better on 72 minutes as he got his foot to Marc Newsham's deflected cross but volleyed well over from 12 yards.
The goal came in fine fashion on 75 minutes as Nyatanga announced his return to the Reds with a towering header from Ricketts' corner that gave sub keeper Steven Cann no chance.
The Millers got a deserved equaliser on 88 minutes after the ball broke nicely for Stephen Brogan in the area and the Millers midfielder hammered it past Letheren and into the top corner from 16 yards out.
Michael Coulson thought he had won the game on 89 minutes as he turned Istvan Ferenczi's cross goalward but his effort smashed against the woodwork and somehow out of danger.
ROTHERHAM UNITED: Warrington (Cann 68), Tonge, Sharps (Joseph 68), Harrison (Jacobs 59), Coughlan, Todd (Hurst 77), P. Holmes, D, Holmes (Taylor 23), Hudson, Brogan, O'Grady (Newsham 67).
Subs: King, Fleming.
BARNSLEY: Colgan (Letheren 45), Nyatanga, Johnson (Togwell 59), Mostto (Coulson 80), Odejayi (Ferenczi 59), Howard, Atkinson, Souza, Ricketts, Devaney (McCann 59), Werling.
Subs: Meynell, McGrory, Heslop, Potter.
Attendance: 2,870
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