Hartlepool United 1 Rotherham United 2: Millers’ resolve rewarded with last-four place

A glamour final at Wembley moved tantalisingly closer after the Millers defended superbly at times.

Manager Steve Evans said: “We had our backs to the wall a bit towards the end, but throughout the game we defended really well. We laid the foundations in the first half, and by the end of the game I felt we were worthy winners.”

Despite Saturday’s excellent 
FA Cup win over Bradford, Evans opted to make five changes to his starting line-up, with Richard Brindley, Pablo Mills, Robert Milsom, Michael Tidser and Tom Eaves all getting the nod at Victoria Park.

Ins a frantic start home forward James Poole went close before the Millers grabbed an eighth-minute lead.

Tidser crossed in superbly and found Eaves, who headed clinically past Scott Flinders.

The hosts responded positively and Millers goalkeeper Adam Collin had to be alert to keep out Poole, who had raced menacingly clear of the defence.

Hartlepool were on top and it was no surprise when they levelled midway through the first half.

Former Miller Andy Monkhouse applied a cool finish after charging purposefully into the box.

The action was moving from end to end, and after Poole had gone agonisingly close to firing the hosts ahead, the Millers hit back with Lee Frecklington lashing in a 30-yard drive that Flinders could only gather at the second attempt.

Frecklington was to gain some reward two minutes before the break when his carbon copy effort from distance flicked fortunately off Kieran Agard and wrong-footed Flinders to hand the Millers a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Chances were much more at a premium in the second period, but late on the hosts pushed hard for a second leveller.

Poole went close then as the game entered stoppage-time and Sam Collins rattled a shot against the crossbar.

Hartlepool United: Flinders; Duckworth, Baldwin, Collins, Austin; Franks (Richards 86), Walton, Dolan (Sweeney 80), Monkhouse; Poole (Walker 84), James. Unused substitutes: Rafferty, Burgess.

Rotherham United: Collin; Brindley, Mills, Frecklington, Skarz (Pringle 59); Agard, Tidser, Morgan, Milsom; Tubbs (Nardiello 65), Eaves (Revell 67). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Davis.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).