By CCFC Sid
April 27 2004

13,572 watch a typically end of season performance from CCFC, with the home side giving Rotherham plenty of opportunities to make themselves safe from relegation, before finally joining in with this match.... The first shot of this match came a mere 90 seconds in, with the ever dangerous Proctor blasting over the CCFC bar before most players had even touched the ball. Unlikely right-back Callum Davenport tested Pollitt soon after, then set up Joachim, who saw Pollitt save before he had the chance to have a proper shot.

A pass from Gudjonsson on 14 minutes saw McSheffrey felled in the area, but the Coventry youngster saw his penalty well saved by Mike Pollitt. The penalty was struck well enough, but the opposition keeper pulled off the first of a number of saves that would make him a decent potential replacement for Ward and Arphexad!

On 27 minutes Rotherham had the ball in the net, but the referee had blown his whistle a good few seconds before (Despite what Ronnie Moore claims!), and the "goal" was ruled out. Having ridiculed CCFC fans for thinking Barrett had scored from a corner some minutes earlier, it was now the turn of CCFC supporters to ridicule the opposition, who seemed to take some time to realise that the score was still 0-0 (The fact there was no kick-off being a major clue).

McSheffrey twice raced passed RU defenders around the half hour mark, but badly under-hit his first cross, then over-hit his second - almost picking out the linesman on the far touchline with the latter.

Rotherham then produced identical set pieces, either of which should have resulted in them taking the lead. The first saw the base of a post save CCFC (With Shearer well beaten) from a Swailes header, the second going just wide of the other post via Barker.

A minute before half-time another certain RU goal was saved on the line by Warnock (Playing at left-back rather than left midfield), and the whistle couldn't come soon enough for CCFC, who seemed to have packed up early for their summer holidays.

The first piece of good news for CCFC supporters (Apart from the fact they were still on level terms at the break!) was the lack of `Sky Blue Crew' at half-time!! The interval also saw Morrell replace Joachim (Who had once again picked up an injury), and the former Wrexham man was soon in the thick of the action, flooring Rotherham's No. 22 (Barker) with five seconds!!

Barrett missed a decent chance for CCFC on 49 minutes, having been set up after an excellent challenge by Davenport, and two minutes later CCFC had several decent chances to open the scoring following good work by Gudjonsson (Get stuffed Leicester!). Unfortunately, too many players tried to walk the ball into the net rather than just having a shot, with Morrell's effort eventually being cleared off the line by Stockdale (Who seems to have his hair cut and "greased" by Keith O'Neill's barber. Both were at Middlesboro, so it could be true....).

CCFC finally scored after 55 minutes, with Morrell sweeping a Barrett cross into the net. This sparked CCFC into life, but, having been let off the hook by Rotherham, CCFC returned the favour for the next few minutes....

CCFC were given a great opportunity to double their lead soon after, with the referee awarding CCFC a free kick less than 10 yards out after Pollitt picked up a back pass. Rather than just hammering the ball goalwards (If somebody is brave enough to risk losing their plums in a bid to keep the scores down, more fool them!), CCFC passed the ball, and allowed RU to clear the (Eventual) shot for a corner.

McSheffrey missed another chance on 62 minutes, having raced past the last defender, then beating two players (Who had got back as he took the ball wide) with a great piece of skill, only to then fire into the side netting. On 68 minutes a Warnock cross also produced a flying header from McSheffrey, whose effort was well saved by Pollitt (Again).

In the 70th minute, Davenport rose majestically to reach a Gudjonsson corner, and he was once again foiled by a superb save from Pollitt. Minutes later RU made a double substitution, and drew level almost immediately. Konjic comitted a foul, and Morris supplied Butler to head home the equaliser - thanks to some `Grade E' CCFC defending.

Shearer kept out a Proctor effort late on in the game (Pace and a trick - a player to watch out for?), before Delomeaux missed an absolute sitter with virtually the last kick of the game. It looked easier to score....

[Apologies for the lateness of this report - I couldn't remember where I left my notes after the post-match visit to the pub!!]