ALDERSHOT TOWN 1,

ROTHERHAM UTD 1

JUSTICE was perhaps done when John Grant converted an injury-time penalty to keep Aldershot's hopes alive in the FA Cup.

But the Shots will have to dramatically improve their dire away form when they visit South Yorkshire in the replay next Tuesday (Nov 18) to have a chance against a Rotherham side who have speedily wiped out a 17-point deduction imposed for administration shortcomings and show every sign of moving towards mid-table safety.

Aldershot have lost seven times in succession on their travels in League Two, while boasting an unbeaten home record which goes back a year.

The way Gary Waddock's side approached their task on Saturday offers hope that they can give the Millers a run for their money and take their place in the second round.

"Our luck in away games has to change some time," remarked Waddock after seeing his side dominate the first half, only to be denied by the woodwork and top-quality goalkeeping. "We got our reward in the end – I thought we deserved something from the game."

He praised Grant who, though painfully short of goals this season, stepped up to take the vital penalty. "He'd missed one the week before and it takes a brave man to do that."

Grant thus finally notched his 50th goal for Aldershot and the fans will hope that reaching that milestone will signal a change of luck for last season's top marksman.

He had come within a whisker of scoring after just four minutes. Louie Soares and Kirk Hudson combined to deliver the ball to Grant whose instant shot was swerving inside the far post when Andy Warrington diverted it wide with a flying parry.

The balding, greying Warrington looked as if he had strayed in from a veterans' pub match, but he happens to be one of the best keepers in the division and proceeded to frustrate Aldershot with a string of agile saves.

Hudson's rifle shot was tipped away for a corner and when Rotherham failed to clear their lines from the kick, the keeper was equal to a snap shot from Anthony Charles.

That effort clearly encouraged Charles and, with 24 minutes gone, the central defender struck an absolute belter with his left foot from 35 yards out. This time, Warrington was beaten, but the framework juddered as the dipping ball struck the crossbar.

The rebound fell nicely for Chris Blackburn, but the full-back didn't seem to know what to do and chipped the ball harmlessly towards the corner flag.

Although Rotherham tightened up at the back as they came to terms with the pace of Aldershot's midfielders, they were again grateful to their alert keeper when, just before half-time, Ben Harding played a peach of a through-ball and Warrington made a brave interception at Grant's feet.

The players had to contend with standing water on the pitch as the rain and murk intensified in the second half.

Rotherham, having barely troubled Nikki Bull in the first period, began to look dangerous on the break and, six minutes in, should have taken the lead, Alex Rhodes crashing a free header the wrong side of the post after Pablo Mills' forcing run and cross.

Three minutes later, the visitors had the lead after a set-piece move straight off the training ground. Rhodes directed a corner straight to Micky Cummins, lurking just outside the area, and the midfielder's searing first-time shot bulged the back of the net before Bull could react.

The tactical substitutions then began – Aldershot searching for something different, the Millers striving to consolidate their lead.

Marvin Morgan provided the 'something different', but it seemed that the increasingly confident visitors would hold out. Warrington stopped a low 25-yarder from Scott Davies, while Grant, Morgan and Danny Hylton all missed decent chances, and when Rhys Day, coming in undetected to meet a corner, saw his strong header deflected for a corner, Aldershot looked to be going out.

Substitute Reuben Reid could have put the game to bed for Rotherham after a fine side-skipping run, but Bull made an important block.

Three minutes into injury time, Morgan's strong run was ended by Nick Fenton's ill-timed tackle, and it was Grant versus Warrington to decide Aldershot's fate. Warrington guessed right and got his fingertips to the ball, but the shot had too much power. Shots live to fight another day.

Aldershot: Bull, Straker, Blackburn, Day, Charles, Soares (Morgan 59), Hudson, Harding, Davies, Grant, Hylton (Elvins 90). Subs (not used): Jaimez-Ruiz, Chalmers, Howell, Donnelly, Newman.

Rotherham: Warrington, Nicholas, Sharps, Fenton, Mills, Tonge, Danny Harrison, Cummins, Rhodes (Reid 63), Broughton (Barker 55), Garcia (Joseph 78). Subs (not used): Cann, Yates, Taylor, Hudson. Booked: Broughton, Barker.

Attendance: 2,632.

Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).

* Former Shots manager Terry Brown and his wife, Sue, received a rapturous reception when they were introduced to the crowd at half-time.

* The winners of the Rotherham-Aldershot replay have been draw away to League One highflyers Millwall. The south Londoners beat Chester City 3-0 to clinch their place in the second round (Nov 29/30).

Shots manager Gary Waddock spent two seasons at Millwall, 1989/91, scoring two goals in 58 appearances.

The last time an Aldershot team played Millwall was in the League Cup first round in 1978/79. The Lions progressed 2-0 on aggregate.

* After discussions between both clubs, the tickets pricing for the FA Cup replay at Rotherham is: admissions – adults £10; all concessions £5. The Don Valley Stadium is an all-seater.

The clubs appreciate the high costs involved for supporters in the build-up to Christmas and the reduction in admission prices has been agreed to assist fans of both clubs.

This is Rotherham's first season at Don Valley.

Supporters travelling by vehicle are advised to exit the M1 at junction 34 and take the A6178 into Sheffield and continue past the A6102 (Greenland Road) junction onto the left along Attercliffe Common. Turn left into Leeds Road at the junction with Newhall Road and the stadium is on the left.

Trains run directly to the stadium from Sheffield Meadowhall transport interchange.

* Aldershot's home game with Exeter City this Saturday is all-ticket only for Exeter supporters.

However, the home match with Wycombe Wanderers on December 6 will be all-ticket for both clubs. No tickets will be sold on the day.

* Aldershot Reserves' match against Crystal Palace was postponed on Tuesday after heavy overnight rain.