Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Millers miss out as Shrews take place in top three...Vale climb into playoffs

And so it was a far from fruitful night Rotherham last night as they were well beaten at home by Shrewsbury, who now overtake Bury and go into third place, the final automatic promotion position. James Collins opened the scoring on twenty minutes and the Shrews never looked back, controlling the game and going on to double their lead before half time. Collins was brought down in the area and Nicky Wroe stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Two became three quickly after the break as Tom Bradshaw, scorer of both goals in the weekend win over Bradford, charged down a clearance from Andy Warrington in the home goal and the ball fell kindly for Collins to net a second of the game. Adam Le Fondre, returning from injury, was only on the bench but came on to score and give his side hope with twenty minutes to play but it was Shrewsbury who took home maximum points in a fine performance ahead of Saturday’s home game with Macclesfield Town at the New Meadow.

Meanwhile, there were opposite fortunes for another manager less side in Port Vale as they did get the win needed to take them back into the playoff positions. It didn’t look good for them when Lincoln took the lead at Vale Park through a third minute strike from Gavin McCallum.

But the hosts hit back in what could be a defining turn around for their season. Marc Richards netted his 100th career goal and 50th league goal for Vale just before the hour mark and the victory was sealed ten minutes later when Doug Loft scored what sounds like being one of the goals of the season, a belting left footed shot from 25 yards that beat Imps keeper Elliot Parish all ends up.

So that means Shrewsbury are into third place and Bury are the ones to slip out into fourth, though the Shakers do still have a game in hand. Vale, who go to leaders Chesterfield at the weekend, go above Torquay into seventh but everything is still almightily close.

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