What a fantastic game of football!! Seven goals, a missed penalty, both teams turning round deficits to take the lead, two cracking strikes from fully 25 yards, contentious penalty, controversial late equaliser, last minute winner.

This was one of those occasions when the 133 in attendance at a chilly Artic Stadium were able to cast aside external uncertainty, remaining engrossed in 90 minutes of high octane cup-tie action.

It took just 14 minutes for the game to spring into life. As Sam Hasler’s free kick from the left evaded all in the six yard box,  Matt Warren tapped in at the far post to give the hosts an early lead.

Just moments later however, referee Morgan Conn awarded Casuals the opportunity to level after Kieron Cadogan was tripped by Ashley Sains in the area. With Millers’ custodian Andy Walker at full stretch, Cadogan’s low spot kick struck the foot of Walker’s right hand post and Valley’s lead was maintained.  

After Malick Mboob was denied in the 23^rd minute by a combination of Walker and Sains, Cadogan had a second opportunity from twelve yards on the half hour – Jerson Dos Santos brought crashing down by Hasler right on the edge of the area. Cadogan this time converted with aplomb as Walker again dived to his right.

Dos Santos was denied by Cem Tumkaya when clean through,  before powerfully heading an excellent left wing cross from Hakeem Adelakun beyond Walker in the 41^st minute to give Casuals the lead.

Glances turning to the benches for an indication of additional first half stoppage time, Casuals centre back Jack Strange then sent Hassan Ibrahiym crashing to earth twenty five yards from goal. After referee Conn had shown Strange the yellow card, Millers recent signing Hasler fired the resultant free kick high past Danny Bracken in the visitors’ goal to send the teams into the break level.

How different things might have been in the recent FA Cup defeat to Havant & Waterlooville had the Millers been able to call on the range of passing, and ability to strike a dead ball, of former Folkestone Invicta man Hasler.

Not to be outdone, Cadogan returned to the scene five minutes after the interval – firing a free kick from a very similar position, high to Walker’s right to restore Casuals’ lead.

The second half continued with the hosts very much in the ascendancy as changes by manager Kevin Watson saw Rory Hill replace the disappointing Denzel Gayle on the right and Francis Babalola bolster the attack at the expense of Kieron McCann.

The changes seemed to give Valley more attacking impetus as Hill impressed. Babalola moved to the left side of the attack as Ade Adeyemo later replaced Ryan King-Elliot.

With the hosts now exerting increasing pressure on the visitors goal, keeper Bracken showed why he is so highly rated among his peers, effecting several fine stops to deny the home attack.

But then, a forceful burst of pace into the left side of the area by Babalola saw his drive well saved by Bracken. Adeyemo’s header from the keeper’s parry was eventually forced over the line by Ade Yusuff to again restore parity in the 83^rd minute. Casuals complaints that Yusuff tapped the ball home from an offside position failed to sway Conn and assistant referee Myers, as thoughts started to turn to a penalty shootout.

The clock ticking down and the Millers looking increasingly dangerous, Casuals manager James Bracken brought on striker Nat Pinney in anticipation of penalties.

But Millers midfielder Ibrahiym had other ideas – breaking into the Corinth area to strike fiercely high beyond Bracken and win the tie for Valley.

With home support in raptures, anticipating a third victory of the season against higher ranking opposition, Casuals barely had time to restart the game before victory was confirmed.

With no date for a resumption in their league campaign, the Millers now await the result of the tie between Harrow Borough and Glebe to discover who their 2^nd round opponents will be.    

MILLERS’ STAR MAN – Sam Hasler

MATCH RATING – *****

MILLERS : Walker, Sains, Tumkaya, Gayle (Hill 55), McCann (Babalola 63), Hasler, Morath-Gibbs, Warren, King-Elliot (Adeyemo 79), Ibrahiym, Yusuff

Subs Not Used : Aarons Royal, Farmer

CASUALS : Bracken, Mills (Pinney 90), Taylor, Strange, Paratore, Ekim, Dos Santos, Serbonij (Oldham 87), Mboob (O’Donoghue 75), Cadogan, Adelakun

Subs Not Used : Carter, Bamba

Referee : Morgan Conn

Image courtesy of Dave Cumberbatch