First Half:
Before the game began, both clubs paid their respects with a minute's silence before kick off.
Millers could not be underestimated, but it was Russellers who started off the strongest, with a lovely passing exchange which almost led to the deadlock being broken. But another delight exchange down the right hand side gave Matthew Brittle time and space to prod through an exquisite ball to Oliver Brown, who's first touch set him up beautifully to allow him to stroke the ball home, despite the keeper getting his foot to it.
Early pressure was working well for the home side, as a free kick was won in the opposition third, where Serkan Ozdemir delegated himself the responsibility of set piece taker. Although there was a debate about it being a cross or a shot, only Serkan knows he meant to place that ball over the keeper into the back post. The early dominance surely should set Russellers up for a big win.
However, Millers took advantage of the complacency of the home side, where the defence misjudged a ball over, leaving their striker free to tap in the ball and reduce the deficit. They could have been back on level terms but Grant Tugwell looked big in his goal and prevented chances being converted.
A corner came by for the home side, and a delightful whip into the box came for Nathan Cross, who powered a header goalwards, only for the goalkeeper to parry it. Luckily Serkan was on hand to guide it home on the rebound to restore the two goal lead.
It could have been another one, as Ben Cross played what would have been a sublime through ball to Oliver Brown, only for the referee to don his Millers shirt and have the ball strike his head. Play stopped as the referee went down to recover himself after a nasty blow to the head, but he managed to find his feet moments later despite being dazed.
Second Half:
An eventful half this was, but it looked pretty even with both teams pushing for that next goal with the score at 3-1, a home goal and it was all but over, and an away goal giving them hope of a comeback. Down in the away side's penalty box, Oliver Brown flicked the ball across, only for it to be met by the defender's hand and cries of 'handball', but the referee was clearly still affected by the knock to the head, and waved the claims away. Millers broke from this, and had a shot blocked off the line only for it to fall to their winger, who shot into the raised arm of Nathan Cross who had attempted to block the shot. Again cries of handball rang around Acacia Hall, only for the referee to succumb to the pressure and award the spot kick. He wasn't finished there, and proceeded to award the first red card in the history of New Russellers to the young centre back, amid protests from stand in captain Serkan Ozdemir. The resulting penalty was launched down the middle into the roof of the net, and Millers had got that important goal to spark a comeback.
With 10 men Russellers needed to adjust to the change in shape, but failed to do so as quickly as they would have liked, as a cross over Conor Boud left their striker with the whole goal to go for, and despite Grant Tugwell getting something on it, Reece Churcher could only try his best to clear it. Unfortunately it took a nasty slice and ended up in his own net. Millers had achieved their equaliser, and with the extra man looked to go on a potentially nick the win from under our noses.
With 10 minutes to go, Benjamin Lovell picked the ball up in midfield, rolled a lovely pass into Oliver Brown, who took a touch wide, and just outside the box, unleashed a strike which the keeper tried to reach but failed to do so, flying into the back of the net to give the lead once again to the home side, and sighs of relief all around.
Holding off until the last minute, their winger turned Reece after a header, and was through on goal ready to equalise once more, but for Reece to produce a stunning last ditch tackle getting him body in front of the ball allowing for a defender to clear it.
A silly freekick was awarded to Millers, after their player went down quicker than a cheap prostitute. The resulting freekick was struck low and wide of the wall, inch perfect to the bottom corner. The Millers players had started celebrating what they believed was another equaliser, but for Grant Tugwell, "OUTTA NOWHERE", who produced a marvellous save, diving at full stretch to get a strong hand on the ball to push it away.
The corner was cleared and the final whistle blew. Elation for the 10 men of Russellers as they booked their placed in the next round of the League Cup.
