MATCH REPORT: Moore rescues a derby day point

TOP scorer Kieffer Moore swooped in stoppage time to salvage a point for Rotherham United in a keenly contested and sometimes controversial local derby at Doncaster Rovers.

Richard Wood’s own goal just past the hour looked like sentencing Paul Warne’s men to defeat until the late, late drama.

David Ball was foiled in a goalmouth scramble and although Moore’s initial follow-up was kept out, he buried the ball at the second attempt to send the 3,829 travelling fans in a 12,000 plus crowd into raptures.

The 1-1 scoreline was just about a fair reflection after what was the first meeting of the clubs in ten years, although the Millers might have had the stronger claim to the points after hitting the woodwork three times.

A defence including a makeshift left-back in Michael Ihiekwe, filling in for the suspended Joe Mattock, coped well with all Rovers could throw at them in a scrappy opening half-hour.

The hosts had a penalty yell rejected when John Marquis went tumbling in the box but had an amazing double escape on 34 minutes.  Meeting a cross from Ryan Williams, Semi Ajayi saw his header clatter the goal frame and Wood’s follow-up header also hit the bar and appeared to bounce down behind the line amidst Rotherham appeals. Video evidence was inconclusive although in hindsight Wood should have done better with the chance.

The incident lifted the Millers and they got on top in the run-up to half time, with the last action of the first period a deflected Moore header which flashed just wide.

Rotherham looked likelier in that period but it was the visitors who went ahead on 63 minutes. Rodney Kongolo crossed and Wood, in trying to avert the danger, succeeded only in stabbing the ball into his own net.

The visitors chanced their arm, with Jonson Clarke-Harris coming on to partner Moore up front in a 3-5-2.

The substitute cursed his luck in the final minutes when his close-range shot clobbered the inside of the post. Will Vaulks rebound was diverted wide but then came the late leveller.

It was Moore’s 13th goal of the season and his most celebrated.

Rovers: Lawlor, Wright, Butler, Baudry, Blair, Houghton, Kongolo, Toffolo, Coppinger (c), Rowe, Marquis

Millers: O'Donnell; Emmanuel (Clarke-Harris 75), Ajayi, Wood (Ball 86), Ihiekwe; Williams, Potter, Vaulks, Newell, Taylor (Towell 67); Moore.

Referee: Graham Scott  (Oxfordshire)

Attendance: 12,428 (3,829 visitors)