Aldershot 2 Rotherham United 2: Le Fondre’s return to goal-scoring form is too late for the Millers

The campaign had tailed off so much for the little striker that he had lost his place as an automatic choice in recent weeks.

He was back in the starting line-up here after injury ruled out Ryan Taylor and Ian Thomas-Moore and he responded with a captivating performance topped by both goals as Rotherham came from 2-0 down.

“I had a chat with him, told him what I want and what I expect and we all saw the response”, said Rotherham manager Andy Scott.

“He played very well and Aldershot couldn’t handle him at times and he looked like the player we know he can be.”

It certainly did not look like being Rotherham’s day when Aldershot went two up in the opening 11 minutes.

Central defender Anthony Charles swept home the first after five minutes following a couple of corners and then Nick Fenton gifted a back pass to Danny Hylton, who set up Peter Vincenti for an easy second.

Le Fondre got his first goal after 32 minutes from a tight angle, laying claim to the goal even though team-mate Tom Pope might have got a final touch as defenders tried to clear.

The equaliser came in the 55th minute when Aldershot misjudged a clearance by goalkeeper Jamie Annerson and Le Fondre nipped in to lob goalkeeper Jamie Young, who then pulled off a fine save to prevent him getting his hat-trick and adding to his 24 goals.

The inability to win confirmed Rotherham’s failure to make the play-offs.

Aldershot Town: Young; Herd, Jones, Charles, Fortune (Sills, 69); McGlashan (Mekki, 83), Guttridge, Halls, Hylton, Straker; Vincenti. Unused substitutes: Harding, Morris, Connolly, Bergqvist, Jaimez Ruiz.

Rotherham United: Annerson; Tonge, Cresswell, Fenton, Newey (Green, 51); Henderson (Marshall, 66), J Taylor, Harrison, Bradley; Le Fondre, Pope. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Kennedy, Ashworth, Randall, Warne.

Referee: K Evans (Lancs).

Man of the match: Adam Le Fondre.