Match 25. Rotherham United v Charlton Athletic

Saturday 30^th January 2016 @3pm

Football League Championship

ROTHERHAM UNITED 1-4 CHARLTON ATHLETIC

New York Stadium, New York Way, S60 1AH

Admission: £23

Programme: £3 (76pp)

Attendance: 9,227

Refreshments: Balti Pie, £3. Singha, £3.50

With Charlton offering free coach travel up to the match I purchased a ticket in the week and booked my pick up from Bexleyheath. We left at 9.15 and arrived at 1.30 after a 35 minute stop at Watford Gap Services, probably the dullest of Service stations.  The ground is near the town centre and after popping into The Corn Law Rhymer quickly, I headed through the town to The Bridge Inn, which is an excellent football friendly pub with quick bar service and hot pies available for a couple of quid.  I sat near the open fire and watched the Colchester v Spurs game on the big screen before walking the 7 minutes along the river to the Mears Stand.  The ground has the same unimaginative new ground stadium feel about it but has 2 unusual floodlights and a stepped gradient to the roof behind both goals.  A tip for refreshments in the away end, head for the 2^nd food outlet which has a much smaller queue  as most headed for the first outlet.

I had predicted a draw for these 2 struggling sides but I was pleasantly surprised by an open and entertaining match.  The 739 away supporters were delighted as they took the lead in the first 5 minutes when Makienok was set up by Bergdich from the left and the tall Swede entered the penalty area and shot hard into the net.  Rotherham equalised just 6 minutes later as Burke had loads of space on the right as he steadied himself and shot across the keeper into the net.  Both sides then had a midfield battle with the best chances coming from dead ball situations. Charlton sneaked the lead right before the break as an attack down the right wing was crossed and Vetokele was first to the ball to knock in from 6 yards.

Chances for both sides continued in the 2^nd half and got quite feisty with Makienok and Rotherhams centre back grappling with each other to both collect yellows. Makienok won the dual when he headed in his 2^nd from a corner, outjumping his adversary. Rotherham had a chance soon after to get a goal back with a penalty, but Clark-Harris blazed his spot kick into the crowd.  Rotherham continued to press and had most of the last 15 minutes but Charlton added a fourth on the break right at the end.

Back to the coach and left by 5.15. No breaks on the way back and apart from a 30 minute delay at Potters Bar because of an overturned van, arrived back at Bexleyheath by 21.45.