First Half
Rotherham were the first team on the attack, winning a corner on their right from which Mullin's header was saved by Blayney. The Rovers got going and, on 6 minutes, a great ball down the left flank by Timlin for Neil ROBERTS to run behind the Rotherham backline, pick the ball up in the angle of the area and lash into the far corner of the goal to give the Rovers the lead. Rotherham tried to hit backwith a volley from Williamson saved at the second attempt by Blayney under the bar.
On 11 minutes, the Rovers extended their lead when a shot by Coppinger was blocked, the ball fell for THORNTON to slam past Montgomery. This time the Millers did hit back, on 16 minutes, when FORTE latched on to a ball out of the visiting defence, outpaced the Rovers defence and slotted past Blayney to pull a goal back. The sky darkened as it threatened to rain but it was already raining goals here at Belle Vue because on 21 minutes, Lee cleared out of defence, GUY collected it on the left side of goal and slotted it past Montgomery as he came out to challenge.
The Rovers continued to attack down the right through Coppinger, whose crosses produced further chances for the front men but desperate defending by the Rotherham defence only produced a couple of corners for the Rovers. After 33 minutes, Forte again got away down the Millers left leaving the Rovers defence in his wake but Blayney came out and blocked his shot with Mulligan helping out at the expense of a corner.
The Millers had a spell of attacking but back came the Rovers to keep the visitors on the defensive. The break came with no further goals, the Rovers going in with a 3-1 lead.
Second Half
Rotherham started the game and immediately won a corner on their left but it was cleared. The Millers now had the wind at their backs and were going to use it. On 50 minutes, the Rovers won a corner on their right, Lee's header was palmed out by Montgomery for Neil Roberts to stab in but Roberts was deemed to be offside. But this was only a short interlude for Rovers as Rotherham battled on and forced the Rovers to defend as the rain started to come down into their faces as well as the wind.
The Rovers weathered the storm after about a quarter of a hour, the rain stopped and they relieved the pressure on their defenders. On 76 minutes, a quick break by the Rovers through Coppinger on the right, a cross to the far post for Horlock, stretching, to head wide. The Rovers were now right back in the game as they pushed Rotherham back on defence. The match wound down to full time, with neither keeper being troubled to any extent, the Rovers running out winners by 3 goals to 1.