Rotherham United 3
Mansfield Town 4
FA Cup Round 1
The Stags had their name thrown in the hat for the second round draw after beating Rotherham united in a 7 goal thriller at Millmoor. Again though for the second game on the bounce the Stags lost a player with only seconds of normal time remaining when Gus Uhlenbeek was unjustly sent for an early bath after an incident with Michael Keane.
Stags travelled to Millmoor on bonfire night for the first round of the FA Cup where they were facing League one side Rotherham United. Stags boss Peter Shirtliff made two enforced changes bringing Jason Talbot in place of Gareth Jelleyman who was to sit out the first of a three match suspension. The second change to the line up that has been performing very well of late was Stephen Dawson to replace Jonathan D'Laryea who was cup tied and not allowed to play in the FA Cup.
A through ball to Deon Burton from Michael Keane allowed the United midfield man to let rip with a low shot that fortunately for the Stags went wide of the post but this was an early warning sign that the home side are a division higher.
Eighteen minutes into the first half brought a couple of good chances at scoring but most were from the home side despite some god breaks by the Stags.
The closest came from Martin Butler as he slid a low shot through the stags defence but again fortunately for the Stags his shot was off target and went around the outside of the near upright.
The goal eventually came in the 27th minute when Gus Uhlenbeek sent a ball from the right wing towards the near post where poacher Simon Brown headed inside the near post to give the Stags the lead.
The reply wasn't long coming when in the thirtieth minute McClaren turned and volleyed a shot into the top left corner.
A minute later Butler found himself being the first name in Mr Drysdsale's notebook for a hefty challenge on Stephen Dawson.
The goal for Millers seemed to lift their game and the rained in attack after attack and the game picked up anew found sense of urgency. Rundle one on one with keeper Montgomery sent a shot goalbound but the united shot stopper managed to tip the ball around the post.
In the 37th minute the Stags took the lead for the second time when Giles Coke headed a shot from the edge of the box beating Montgomery.
Again it only took a minute for the Millers to get back in the game when Butler again drilled a shot into the top of the net in the opposite corner to his first.
Minutes later Miller's captain Gilchrist was booked for having a go at the lines man and then at the referee about the Mansfield earlier Goal .
The third Miller in the book was Hurst when he picked up a rather needless booking for mouthing off at the Referee who had already displayed that he wasn't prepared to put up with dissent of any manner.
Coming back from the break both teams remained unchanged and the Stags came out the blocks all guns blazing seemingly finding their way into the final third on every jaunt forward. Rotherham however defended well and kept the Stags at bay winning a freekick deep in the Stags third in the 51st minute. But the kick delayed by the booking of Gus Uhlenbeek came to nothing for the home side.
However a corner a minute later was clumsily knocked in by Deon Burton who was standing on the far post waiting for the in swinging shot.
In the 62nd minute Hjelde was added to the notebook for a fairly innocuous challenge on Burton.
Coke picked up the next yellow card for Arguing with the referee and during the stop in play Peter Shirtliff made his first change bringing on Rhys Day to replace Jon Olav Hjelde.
Yet another yellow card was issued in the 67th minute this time to John Mullin for shoulder barging Uhlenbeek of the ball.
In the 69th minute Shirtliff made his second change whilst the stags were waiting to take a corner. On came Adam Birchall to replace Jason Talbot changing the formation slightly. Jake Buxton dropped into the left back role, Gus went to right back and Birchall moved into the right hand side of the midfield. The corner was taken by Adam Rundle who floated the ball high over the defence. Rhys Day at the back of the pack rose to meet the ball knocking it down to Brown who hasty shot fired the bal over the crossbar
In the 70th minute Ex Stag Lee Williamson was brought into play replacing John Mullin.
The equaliser came in the 75th minute when Adam Birchal received a ball in the wide right and instead of hitting a volley which would have been the easy shot he crossed it into the centre of the goalmouth where Richie Barker was unmarked and wasted no time drilling the ball into the back of the net.
In the 84th minute came another change for the Millers saw Neil Cutler come on to replace Grant Leadbitter.
A corner with only two and half minutes of normal time remaining brought some hope for the Stagsd but the Millers defended well and the ball was sent up the park into the stags half.
With only 1 second remaining both Gus Uhlenbeek and Michael Keane saw red for a silly incident when Keane wouldn't let go of Uhlenbeek's leg then the irate stag retaliated badly and referee Mr Drysdale issued the two straight red cards.
The freekick was floated into the box by Adam Birchall where Rhys Day stretched to try and give the stags the lead in the third minute of extra time Richie Barker found the back of the net for the second time and again give his team the lead. This time there was no coming back for the Millers and it was the Stags who were to be thrown into the round two draw.
Rotherham United: Gary Montgomery, David Worrell, Shaun Barker, Phil Gilchrist, Paul Hurst, John Mullin, Paul McClaren, Grant Leadbitter, Michael Keane, Martin Butler, Deon Burton
Mansfield: Kevin Pressman, Alex John-Baptiste, Stephen Dawson, Gus Uhlenbeek, Richie Barker, Jake Buxton, Jason Talbot, Giles Coke, Adam Rundle, Simon Brown, Jon Olav Hjelde
Referee: Mr D Drysdale
Assts: Mr N Bannister, Mr M Short
4th Off: Ms A Rayner
