Under Arch: Millers Triumph, Sutton Heartbreak... The Tutu Draw

 Pre Match:

13,000 plus Rotherham fans had travelled down to the Capital for their fourth trip to Wembley in 12 years. However, it wasn't the regular play-off final that drew them down south, it was the chance to watch their side lift the EFL trophy, a prize not won since their 2-1 triumph against in 1996 against Shrewsbury. 

Wembley way was filled with the typical pre-match amble. Both sets of fans in good spirit and noise as they made their way up the newly installed steps of the historic ground. Sutton to the left. Rotherham to the right. Both teams were optimistic coming into the encounter, even if form had dipped for both. The stadium slowly began to fill up with both sets of fans adding to the wonderful atmosphere that comes with a Wembley showdown. 

Then a take-away lovers nightmare... imagine Paul Chuckle and Tim Vine delivering your pizza, you'd definitely question it's quality. Luckily, attached to their delivery bikes, were only the match ball and EFL trophy respectively. The scene was set. The players ready. The 2022 EFL final about to begin.

Match:

Rotherham came into the game as firm favourites. Why wouldn't they? A league above and top of their respective division. However, it was the team in amber and chocolate that took the game by scruff of the neck and were the team that started the brighter. The Millers were lucky not to find themselves 1-0 down when Randall used a clever bit of skill to leave Ihiekwe on the deck, leaving him 1-on-1 with Viktor Johannson. The Sutton number 11 dragging his chance wide. The Millers continued to struggle to get into the game and found themselves 1-0 down on the stroke of the 30th minute. A well worked corner routine seemed to have been dealt with when the ball found its way to Michael Smith's feet. However, the striker miscontrolled and this gave Sutton the chance to nip in and work the ball back to their striker Wilson. Wilson made no mistake placing the ball in the bottom corner leaving Rotherham's swede in goal with no chance. 

The Millers needed something special... and boy did they get it. A goal seemed very unlikely, then up steps Ben Wiles. A long ball up field found it's way to the feet of Josh Kayode. A lovely, lay-off to Wiles and the Rotherham born midfielder made no mistake. A lovely bit of skill followed by curling a lovely 25 yard effort against the underside of the bar and into the Sutton goal. A goal for the perfect stage, a perfect moment, a Wembley worldy! 

The Millers would have been forgiven for not wanting the half-time whistle to blow as they finally found themselves on top. However it wasn't to be and they had to settle with a half time score of 1-1.

The second half followed a similar theme to the first half. Sutton very much on top and pushing their league one counterparts all the way. Sutton got their deserved second goal almost straight after the break. Good build up play by the southerners and the ball found it's way to the best player on the park, Craig Eastmond. The Sutton skipper found his initial effort blocked, however the Rotherham defence couldn't do anything to stop the rebound find it's way into the back of net. 2-1 Sutton, fully deserved.

Sutton continued to frustrate the Millers and looked on course to win their first ever EFL trophy and nobody could have argued with that. Rotherham huffed and puffed but Sutton's house was clearly made of bricks. Nothing was going to break their door down. Warne rolled his dice throwing on Harding, Ladapo, Tutu, Lindsay and Ferguson; anything to break down the resolute opponents. Ladapo went through on goal and the defender of the door, Dean Bouzanis, stood firm.

As the board went up showing 7 minutes added time, Rotherham fans around the ground let out a huge roar, doing anything to give their team a lift. The longest 7 minutes of Suttons life, the shortest of Rotherham's.  The seconds ticked on and Sutton believed it was going to be their day. Cue Osei-Tutu's moment of magic. A wonderful cross field ball from Ogbene found Tutu in space on the edge of the area, the Arsenal loanee worked the ball onto his left foot and smashed the ball past the onrushing keeper. The scenes in the Rotherham end. The limbs. The screams of delight. Rotherham were level. Sutton players hit the deck.

This proved to be the last piece of action as the game finished two a-piece.

Extra time proved to be a step too far for the London based club as Rotherham took control of the game. Ben Wiles had his Wembley moment, Chieo Ogbene was about to have his. Ladapo laying the ball off to the Nigerian-born Irishman who made no mistake from 25 yards, smashing a swirling shot into the bottom corner. 3-2 Millers. This proved the sucker punch for The U's as they had left everything in the first 90 minutes. As the second half of extra time got underway the Millers killed the game with a brilliant corner headed home by Michael Ihiekwe (who had seen an earlier header come back off the post). Game over. Rotherham Champions.

Scenes in the way end as 13,000 Rotherham fans, 22 Rotherham players and one community bounced in unison to "Freed from Desire". A 6 hour long round trip... worth it! 

One final moment to treasure. Richard Wood, the magic man, walking up the steps and lifting the trophy.

One final song... "We are the Champions"... Quite fitting. 

Rotherham team ratings: Johansson 6, Ihiekwe 6, Wood 6, Mattock 6, Ogbene 7, Rathbone 5, Wiles 8, Barlaser 6, Miller 6, Smith 6, Kayode 5

Subs: Harding 7, Lindsay 6, Ladapo 6, Osei-Tutu 7, Ferguson 7

Ref Watch: 6/10