Drew 1-1
Scorers: E. Aitken
MoM: M. Messenger
Saturdays late push-back saw the Millers make the pilgrimage up the M2 to Holcombe Park. Suffering from the familiar Friday night tale of having only six confirmed players, it was with some relief that a (bare) eleven players were assembled by the 4.30pm start time.
Facing an opposition who not only boasted a substitutes bench (with substitutes on it) but, additionally, a per-determined (and well rehearsed) warm-up routine, the odds were looking fairly long for the visitors taking any points back home with them. However, appearances can be deceptive, and with all the implied nonchalance of a Gallic shrug the Millers turned out to be the dominant team in the opening exchanges.
Passing well and creating opportunities, all denied by a vocal, self-declared “One Man Army” in the home goal, it was with some irony that the visitors capitalised on the one ‘sub-optimal’ pass out of defence (no names mentioned) which put the Holcombe centre-forward through one-on-one with Harrison. A one-nil lead to Holcombe was the result, very much against the run of play. The goal brought no change in the balance of the game though and, despite the scoreline, the visitors were still on top of the encounter.
Half-time brought a minor change of tactics and an even more fluid, attacking formation emerged back onto the pitch. Tireless work all round, not least from Adam McHale, continued to pressure the home defence but repeatedly the home keeper, volubly, denied the visitors. Controversy struck when Holcombe broke into the visitors D and looked to have scored a second – despite the centre-forward having kicked the ball. Fortunately, while the closest umpire hadn’t seen the incident (and while the home side, in self-congratulatory mood, were setting themselves up for a Canterbury push-back) the second umpire had a chat to his colleague and the decision was reversed.
Within minutes, Ethan Aitken was able to capitalise on a short corner breakdown (and atone for an earlier misplaced pass…) when he flicked the ball high into the Holcombe net, leveling the score and quietening the home keeper in the process. Canterbury were unlucky not to increase their lead shortly after, when Max hit the inside corner of the goalpost from open play; regrettably though, the ball bounced out of the goal rather than in to it and the game finished with the points split.
A good result for the Millers who almost moved up a place in the table but were held back by their impressive goal difference (not quite triple figures yet) and a big thank-you to the ‘Magnificent Five’ who helped the game to go ahead.