A tremendous second half rear guard action, against all odds, along with an excellent first half display, saw The Millers return from much fancied Sandbach United will all three points on Tuesday evening. With Darius Photiou available The Millers management team changed the shape of the team from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Alsager Town, Photiou also retaining the captains armban, Mitchell Nolan dropped to the bench.

The home side started strongly, forcing The Millers onto the back foot, but once the visitors had settled they dominated the first half, Jelanil Blake in particular looked a real threat, wriggling around defenders with frequency and ease before firing in dangerous crosses and shots. Keenan Switzer went close, his free-kick from the right hand side narrowly missing the target, while Photiou saw Craig Ellison easily his header, from another Switzer set piece, when he will feel he should have scored. The deadlock was finally broken right on half time, a flowing move from the back saw Danny Warburton feed Switzer clear on goal, unselfishly when he had the chance to shoot himself, Switzer held on to the ball and slipped in Blake who fired past Ellison, his effort going in off the post. The Millers deservedly led at the break.

The second period was a different story as Sandbach dominated territory, Robbie Hatton shooting wide when clear on goal in the opening minutes of the half and then firing wide of an empty goal from a tight angle after rounding Jakovlevs. While The Millers were defending stoutly and largely restricting their hosts to long range and speculative efforts, their ability to do so changed with then minutes to go. As Sandbach broke up their left flank, skipper Photiou raced into a challenge with winger Kyle Foley and while he clearly won the ball the referee deemed his tackle as reckless and showed him a red card. Sensing their opportunity had arrived Sandbach launched wave after wave of attack but The Millers back line led by the magnificent James Perry stood firm, when they did manage to get past the defensive line they found Jakovlevs determined to record his first clean sheet for the club. As the game moved into its 92nd minute striker Joe Bevan, a former Miller, raced into the penalty area and was shepherded to the goal-line by Chris Pauley, with the ball going out of play the attackers legs became entangled with the defender and he went to ground. The referee pointed to the spot, a devastating blow for Millers supporters in attendance, who had found themselves watching the clock rather than the football through the second half of the contest. The need not have worried, Jakovlevs dived to his left and produced an outstanding save to keep out Hatton’s spot kick, and then a moment later pulled off another great save with his feet to keep out a free-kick from the left. With an amazing 12 minutes of injury time played, and the home side sensing that there was no way past The Millers keeper, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score, Rio Wilson-Heyes fed substitute Adam Dahou who fired over, before the striker had a chance himself which was gathered by Ellison. Eventually the whistle was blown and The Millers were finally able to celebrate their first win of the season.