Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Rotherham United

Rotherham United juniors unluckily lost out to the Shrews yesterday in the cup final, despite facing ten men and being the better side for much of the game.

Around 80 of us made the two and a half hour journey to cheer the lads on, bearing the usual flags and making plenty of noise. The Shrewsbury side consisted entirely of bigger, stonger professionals but the Millers boys did themselves proud. They started off the brighter team and almost took the lead early on when Simon Harrison's free kick whistled over.

The Shrews didn't really come into the game until the latter stages of the first half, but skipper Liam King repelled their efforts to break down the stubborn defence against a powerful strike force. On the break, Sam Duncum continued to look dangerous in plenty of space down the flank but the final ball was just lacking for the Millers in the last third.

Good day out!

It was then Duncum who sped clean through and was crunched to the floor by Annan just outside the box on the angle - the defender was dismissed for a second yellow card leaving the home side down to ten men. However nothing came of the free-kick.

After the break the Millers took a deserved lead as Simon Harrison's 20 yard shot took a deflection off a defender and nestled in the top corner, sending the Millers fans into a celebratory run down the steps and conga line! However, they had barely time to get their breath as the Shrews instantly levelled as Motterham bundled the ball in after a scramble to get the ball clear.

With just five minutes to play Mark Newsham blazed over into the open terrace when it looked easier to hit the target and the game went into extra time. The Millers again had the better of the play but huffed and puffed without real conviction and disappointingly conceded the winner as Draper headed in direct from a left wing corner, leaving the lads heart broken but to collect their runners-up medals with a standing ovation.

Team: Hedge, Stansfield (Yates 63), Green (Pendleton 105), Burridge (lodge 105), Pritchard, King, Duncum, Harrison, Newsham, Whittington, Taylor.