THAT WAS FOR YOU, THOMMO!
PAUL Warne dedicated Rotherham’s win to defender Adam Thompson, whose father passed away last week.
Mark Thompson’s death has added to the heartache the club have suffered this season, coming with the loss of assistant manager Richie Barker’s brother recently and midfielder Matt Crooks’ best friend, Jordan Sinnott.
And Warne was delighted his side kept their promotion push on track, and honoured Thompson’s father, with two late goals from substitues Freddie Ladapo and Ben Wiles.
“It’s probably one of the most satisfying wins of my managerial career,” said Rotherham manager Warne.
“There were a lot of fans here, it was a late goal and I am pleased for Thommo and that was for his family.
“We have had a lot of loss and heartache this season and hopefully this is a bit of sunshine.
“To score so late makes it feel like a bigger win, but I think we have done enough to win it and, as a manager, that makes me proud.
“We are a very close club, I think you could see that in that everyone, including the bench, celebrated the winning goal. It was a nervy five minutes after that but we fortunately saw it out.”
In a largely forgettable first half, Matthew Olosunde produced a last-ditch sliding tackle to deny Stanley striker Dion Charles.
The game burst into life with two goals in a minute after the break.
Dan Barlaser’s 64th minute corner found Michael Ihiekwe at the far post, he headed the ball back in and sub Lapado, on for three minutes, forced the ball over the line.
A minute later, Sam Finley found Jordan Clark who rifled home his eighth goal of the season to level the score. And the in-form Millers grabbed the winner in the first minute of added time when Barlaser found Wiles, who headed past Josef Bursik.
There was still time for Stanley’s Offrande Zanzala to head over from six yards and for Matt Crooks to hit the bar for the Millers in the sixth of added time.
It brought Stanley’s threegame winning run to an end and manager John Coleman was left frustrated.
“We at least deserved a point. If you go on the balance of chances created, we made the better chances,” he insisted.
“There are two chances at the end – their lad heads it in injury time and Ozzy heads over the bar, which is harder to miss. But I can’t ask any more of the players, they more than matched Rotherham, who are a good side.
“It’s disappointing in that we defended every corner well except one, which they scored their first goal from, and then we have dealt with most crosses into the box until late in the game.”
Rotherham’s win was marred by a fan being taken to hospital by air ambulance after receiving CPR at the ground.
ACCRINGTON: Bursik 6, Johnson 6, Hughes 7, Sykes 6, Alese 7, Conneely 7, Finley 6, Clark 7, Charles 5 (Bishop 80, 5), Pritchard 6, (Zanzala 90+1, 6) Ashley-Seal 5 (Grant 80, 5). Subs not used: , Maguire, Barclay, , Savin, Diallo.
ROTHERHAM: Iversen 6, Olosunde 8, Ihiekwe 8, Wood 7, Mattock 7, Ogbene 7, Crooks 7, Barlaser 8, Adelakun 5 (Ladapo 61, 7), Vassell 5 (Wiles 71, 7), Smith 6 (Koroma 81, 5). Subs not used: MacDonald, Thompson, Price, Lindsay.