Season Review 05/06 - April/May

Another planned sponsored walk by regular Radio Sheffield caller Lawrence saw a few fans make their way to Belle Vue Doncaster to raise further money for Save The Millers, but on the pitch we were to go down 3-1 after howlers from Gary Montgomery cost us the game. Donny raced into a two goal lead as the 'keeper made two errors of judgement by racing off his line to gift the pikeys a dream start. Despite pulling a goal back through Jonathon Forte before the interval, Rotherham were unable to step up the gas and were condemed to defeat.

The day before the Tranmere home game, the JCR dispute was finally settled without the need for the planned hearing, as the Millers new owners agreed a settlement package with Southend chairman Ron Martin. On the pitch, with Tranmere themselves not safe, the Millers turned the screw to seal a crucial 2-0 win despite missing a penalty from Lee Williamson. Martin Butler, on as second half sub for John Mullin, fired Rotherham in front on 72 minutes before Shaw wrapped up the three points five minutes later as he followed in from close range to tap home.

In a public statement, Denis Coleman was to annouce they would be partaking in a Credit Voluntary Agreement to stave off the threat of closure and try to arrange a repayment package with the major creditors of the club. This would more than likely lead to a ten point deduction from the start of next season. An entertaining 2-2 draw with Brentford followed at Millmoor, only an Isiah Rankin cross shot spoiled another three points but with four games left the team had a fighting chance of staying up. John Mullin's header gave the Millers the lead before Owusu found the mark to equalise after 67 minutes when he powered in a super header from a precise corner swung in by Tabb.
The joy was short-lived when less than a minute later Rotherham restored their advantage when Butler crossed from the left and Shaw slotted in powerfully along the deck past Nelson. But Rankin struck nine minutes from time to keep Brentford in touch with the automatic promotion places.

Next came the result that ultimately kept the Millers in League One, a 2-0 win at play off chasers Swansea. One of the best displays of the season was reward for the fans that travelled, with goals from Gregor Robertson and an own goal. Rotherham got the start they had dreamed of when Gary Monk's push on John Mullin allowed Lee Williamson to swing in the free-kick and the Swansea centre-back inexplicably sliced the ball past Willy Gueret and into his own net. Then on the half hour it was game over as Butler beat the offside trap to cross and although Gueret looked to have cut out the delivery, it squermed through his hands and Robertson fired low into the bottom left corner.

After a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe back at Millmoor, Will Hoskins rescuing a late point with six minutes left, a decent result at Colchester would have kept the Millers up, but a 2-0 defeat saw the U's needing just a point for promotion on the final day, whilst the Millers faced MK Dons in a winner takes all battle. Although a draw would probably do it, Hartlepool were also battling to stop up but had a major inferior goal difference.

A sell-out Millmoor crowd saw a scrappy, tense affair end goalless as both sides battled for their League One lives. Both sides created chances to win but Rotherham skipper Colin Murdock and defender Paul Hurst were in impressive form. The Dons saw early efforts from Gary Smith and Craig Morgan from long range go wide and when Izale McLeod found a gap in the ninth minute his 25-yard effort was just off target. As Rotherham hunted for the goal to settle their early nerves, Lee Williamson curled in a superb free-kick and Shaun Barker's stooping header went over the bar. Fifteen minutes from the end Rotherham had a glorious chance when Paul Shaw sent striker Martin Butler clean through but Matt Baker saved the shot with his foot.

Five minutes later McLeod almost gave the Dons the winner with a rare left-foot curling shot but Cutler saved stretching to his top right-hand corner and Edds brought another save from the keeper with a low shot as the Dons were relegated but most importantly the Millers survived.....