Millers beaten by late goal

ROTHERHAM United slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Northampton Town tonight after conceding a late winner.

Alex Nicholls scored five minutes from time to break the Millers' hearts after they had been the better side for long spells.

The Cobblers took the lead on 26 minutes with a 20-yard left-footed strike from Chris Hackett that gave goalkeeper Scott Shearer no chance.

Ben Harding shook the underside of the crossbar before the Millers came into the game in the run-up to half time and Daniel Nardiello forced a goalline clearance from David Artell before the equaliser came in the 41st minute.

A break down the left saw Kayode Odejayi play the ball in for Ben Pringle to score with a shot from just outside the penalty area.

Rotherham had their chances to win it in an exciting second-half, with home goalkeeper Lee Nicholls denying Pringle and substitute Kieran Agard, who also missed a great chance from close range.

It was against the run of play when Alex Nicholls rounded off a Northampton counter-attack with a cool finish past Shearer for the winner.

Northampton: L. Nicholls; Johnson, Widdowson, Langmead (capt), Artell; Hackett, Tozer, Guttridge (Akinfenwa 65), Harding; Platt, A. Nicholls

Millers: Shearer; Bradley, Wilson, Sharps (capt), Arnason; O’Connor (Evans 63), Taylor, Noble, Pringle; Nardiello,(Agard 55), Odejayi (Revell 78)

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland)

Attendance:4,171