Late blow hits Millers ... on-the-whistle report: Rotherham United 2 Bolton Wanderers 2
ROTHERHAM United suffered frustration in their League One survival fight as a two-goal blast from Sam Nombe wasn't enough to give them victory over high-flying Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.
The drop-zone Millers led at the break though the striker's exploits but couldn't hold on in the second half and had to settle for a draw.
They were heading for victory until a late equaliser killed the mood at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
The result in the lunch-time kick-off against third-placed opponents, who haven't lost since January, left them in 22nd spot, two points from safety with 10 matches left to play.
Matt Hamshaw’s men came close to taking fourth-minute lead when Nombe tried his luck from outside the box and his low, skidding effort was pushed around a post by Jack Bonham.
At the other end, Ted Cann had an easier job of holding on to a Corey Blackett-Taylor effort soon afterwards.
The Millers goalkeeper excelled in the 19th minute in a one-on-one encounter, beating away a Blackett-Taylor shot when the Bolton man had been sprung clear down the left.
The game was being shown live on Sky TV and there were plenty of empty seats in the home sections of New York. In contrast, the away end was close to full as Wanderers sought to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Neither team were able to consistently get the upper hand and there were no further openings as the half-hour mark passed.
Rotherham had been marginally the better side and on 34 minutes Zak Jules couldn't keep a volley low enough following Ar'Jany Martha's deep cross and Jamal Baptiste's back-post header back into the path of his teammate.
Cann made a big contribution again, half-blocking Thierry Gale who quickly recovered and saw his subsequent shot headed off the line by Lenny Agbaire.
A member of Bolton's staff was red-carded for kicking the ball away in an incident that also brought a booking for Joe Rafferty.
New York burst into life as the Millers stunned Wanderers with a quickfire double strike.
First, Joe Powell's 38th-minute cross asked questions and the ball fell for Nombe to fire the home team in front.
Then, just four minutes later, Martha bent a Crossfield pass perfectly behind the Bolton backline and Nombe ran in to beat Bonham at the near post.
No goals in open play in ten matches for the attacker then two in a flash.
Injuries are still hitting Rotherham hard and key man Dan Gore had failed to recover from an ankle knock and was missing from the squad.
The starting 11 showed two changes to the one a week earlier at Huddersfield Town, with Powell and Brandon Cover coming in and Shaun McWilliams and Liam Kelly missing out.
In the Bolton line-up was New York old boy Jordi Osei-Tutu.
Wanderers made two substitutions at the break, changed formation, came out fired up and Mason Burstow poked an effort just wide.
The Millers needed to not concede against dangerous opposition in the opening stages of the second half but found themselves pegged back within six minutes of the restart as Chris Forino reduced the arrears from close range following a corner from sub Kyle Dempsey.
Seconds later, the tumbling Harry Gray sent a effort inches off target from Martha's supply as the home team went towards the North Stand.
Cann came to the rescue in the 67th minute when Bolton broke quickly by pushing away Kenny's fierce drive and not longer afterwards he also foiled Gale.
Gray bent in a shot that brought a fine save from Bonham as the contest reached its last quarter of an hour and Duncan Watmore came on and immediately began causing problems.
A vital win was in sight but Kenny crossed from the left in the 83rd minute and Sam Dalby headed in an equaliser.
Cann completed by an excellent personal performance by saving from Dempsey in stoppage time before Emmanuel Adegboyega made a goalline clearance.
A draw was a creditable outcome. But the main feeling at the final whistle was one of disappointment at not hanging on for victory.
Rotherham (3-5-2): Ted Cann; Lenny Agbaire (Emmanuel Adegboyega 89), Zak Jules, Jamal Baptiste; Joe Rafferty (Josh Benson 59), Brandon Cover, Joe Powell, Ar'Jany Martha (Duncan Watmore 79), Reece James; Sam Nombe, Harry Gray (Gabriele Biancheri 89). Subs not used: Cameron Dawson, Lino Sousa, Jack Holmes.
Bolton (4-2-3-1): Jack Bonham; Jordi Osei-Tutu (Cyrus Christie 67), Chris Forino, George Johnston, Max Conway (Rob Apter 79); Josh Sheehan, Ethan Erhahon (Kyle Dempsey H-T); Mason Burstow, Ruben Rodrigues (Johnny Kenny H-T), Corey Blackett-Taylor (Thierry Gale 21); Sam Dalby. Subs not used: David Harrington, Xavier Simons.
Goals: Nombe 38, 42 (Rotherham); Forino 51, Dalby 83 (Bolton)
Referee: James Oldham (Derbyshire)
Attendance: 9,348 (2,067)