FOOTBALL Live

Sunday May 24, 2009 Finished

2 - 3

Millwall

  • Alexander 37’, 39’

Scunthorpe United

  • Sparrow 6’, 70’
  • Woolford 85’

120 comments | Write your comment

  1. Scunthorpe promoted at Wembley

    Scunthorpe promoted at Wembley

    Scunthorpe sealed an immediate return to the Championship after beating Millwall 3-2 in a thrilling League One play-off final at Wembley. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Millwall
    • Scunthorpe United
    • 90+4' The whistle goes and Scunthorpe win the Play-Off final! It's heartbreak for Millwall, but it's the Iron who will be playing Championship football next season.
    • 90' Millwall will have four minutes of stoppage time to rescue this match.
    • 90' Last thorw of the dice for Millwall - Frampton is replaced by Paul Robinson.
    • 89' Alexander chases a ball down the right channel but Mirfin beats him to it to tidy up and clear.
    • 87' The flag stays down and Harris shoots for the far corner... tipped round the post by Murphy! Great save - every bit as vital as the goal.
    • 85' GOAL!! Scunthorpe have one effort miscued and another blocked, but the ball runs out to Martyn Woolford who drills a shot underneath Forde to put Scunnthorpe ahead! The keeper is culpable for letting the shot slip through his hands, but Woolford thoroughly deserves his goal.
    • 84' David Forde comes off his line to punch away the Scunthorpe free-kick, and almost takes Paul Hayes's clean off as he does so!
    • 83' Millwall skipper Tony Craig goes into the book for a foul on Woolford out on the wing. The young referee has had a very good game today.
    • 81' Another change for Scunthorpe, this time Hooper is replaced by the pacy Jonathan Forte.
    • 76' WHAT A MISS FROM ALEXANDER!! The Millwall striker can score from 35 yards out but fails to bury a header from the edge of the six-yard box! The Lions should be ahead again.
    • 76' Woolford has a pop from the edge of the box, but once more it trickles along the turf to Forde.
    • 74' Suddenly Extra Time and Penalties are back on the menu. Can somebody grab a winner in the allotted 90 minutes?
    • 72' Credit goes to Martyn Woolford for the build-up to that goal. His turn and then one-two down the left-hand side set up the opportunity.
    • 70' GOAL!! Woolford bursts past Whitbread into the Millwall box and cuts a ball back for Sparrow, who has an age to take several touches before blasting in the equaliser!
    • 70' Harris slips a ball thorugh to Hackett, but the substitute was always going to be offside.
    • 68' Byrne heads behind for another Millwall corner, but the set piece is caught by Forde. Murphy's long ball forward comes to Woolford, who has a shot blocked on the edge of the box before McCann fires off target.
    • 66' Harris wins yet another corner for Millwall. Martin hoists it over to the far post but Frampton can't reach it.
    • 65' Great first touch by Alexander on the run as he gets into the box, but it's a good tackle from Crosby that means his side only concede a corner.
    • 64' So close for Scunthorpe! From the corner Neil Harris blocks two efforts on the line before Andy Frampton heads clear at the far post!
    • 63' Before the corner is taken, Grabban is replaced by Chris Hackett for Millwall.
    • 63' Nice build-up play from scunthorpe results in them winning a corner.
    • 62' Andy Crosby does well to calmly nod a header back to his keeper with Harris lurking over his shoulder.
    • 61' Zak Whitbread fancies scoring a stunner of his own, but his half-volley from distance is well over the bar.
    • 59' Cliff Byrne had the wind knocked out of him after colliding with Alexander, but after a minute he's up on his feet and can continue.
    • 57' Alexander steams forward to attack the corner, but his header goes wide.
    • 56' Harris has been a real trooper down that right-hand side, and he wins another throw-in. Grabban somehow digs a cross out, but no blue shirts are at the far post and Byrne heads behind for a corner.
    • 55' Liam Trotter comes on to replace Sam Togwell as nigel Adkins makes his first change for Scunthorpe.
    • 54' Grabban goes on a run down the left, cuts inside and shoots the tamest of tame efforts from 25 yards out or so. Alexander is furious with his young team-mate.
    • 52' A neat and tidy tackle from Bolder robs Woolford of the ball and sets up a Millwall attack.
    • 50' Neil Harris chases a long ball all the way down the wing, and is rewarded with a throw-in. So much for taking it easy in the second-half then.
    • 48' Alexander sprays a pass across the pitch for Grabban, but the midfielder is adjudged to have obstructed the Scunthorpe defender as he held the ball up.
    • 46' The second-half kicks off. If it's half as exciting as the first then that'll do nicely!
    • HT Nadjim Abdou - Millwall's goal hero at Elland Road in the semi-final - has picked up a knock, and will be replaced by Marc Laird for the second half.
    • 45+3' The whistle goes for half-time, and the two teams go off for a well-deserved break.
    • 45' Woolford skips through two challenges and STRIKES... The shot is right at Forde and the keeper saves. Good chance for the equaliser from a player who has already caused plenty of problems for the Millwall defenders.
    • 44' Millwall are not relenting at all, despite going into the lead. Scunthorpe look like a side dying to hear that half-time whistle.
    • 43' There's a bit of a hold-up in play as officials struggle to retrieve a ball from the crowd!
    • 41' Grabban plays Alexander in with a through ball and the Millwall fans roar him on... Shame the flag was already up for offside!
    • 39' GOAL!! Alexander scores again to put Millwall ahead! Murphy gets a hand to the downward header but can only look on as it trickles over the line.
    • 39' The Millwall fans are back in full voice now. That wonderstrike has given them a real lift.
    • 37' GOAL!! And what a goal it is from Gary Alexander! The Millwall striker turns a blasts a half-volley into the top corner from a full 30 yards out! A simply awesome strike.
    • 36' Both these sides are running themselves into the ground despite the heat.
    • 35' Hayes lifts a pass over the defence for Hooper, but the striker over-runs the ball and in the blink of an eye has two Millwall defenders breathing down his neck.
    • 33' Morris charges forward with the goal at his feet and fancies his chances from 30 yards out... his low shot is an easy save for Forde.
    • 31' Neil Harris cuts a ball back across goal.. it's missed by two Millwall players and comes to Martin at the far post. He appears to take too long in adjusting his position but his shot rebounds off the boot of Mirfin and off the post!
    • 30' Hooper has a shot deflected over the bar and on to the roof of the net. Forde is relieved it didn't loop over him into the net.
    • 29' Cliff Byrne skips down the line and fires a cross over to the far post, which is heade dback across goal and Whitbread hacks it clear.
    • 28' Woolford gets in front of his marker and tries to prod home from close range... Forde is quick to react and smothers the ball.
    • 26' The temperature dwon on the pitch has just ticked over the 100 degrees Farenheit mark. That's 38 degrees in new money.
    • 25' McCann floats in a free-kick from deep for Scunthorpe, but it's headed out for a throw.
    • 24' Oscar winner and enigmatic method actor Daniel Day Lewis is in the crowd cheering on Millwall. He's wearing a rather natty hat.
    • 23' Grabban is down receiving treatment. Of the 10 fouls so far, Scunthorpe have committed eight.
    • 22' Another poor corner, but Scunthorpe can't fully clear. Bolder almost gets one-on-one with the keeper with a one-two from Harris, but the return pass gets caught up under his feet.
    • 21' Millwall have a free-kick about 25 yards from goal. Martin STRIKES... The shot deflects off the wall for a corner.
    • 20' Grabban's cross is half-cleared but only for Bolder to drill a shot from the edge of the box... it hits a Scunthorpe boot on its way to goal and the Iron can clear.
    • 19' With this big Wembley pitch and the heat, surely the high tempo can't be sustained.
    • 18' This has been an entertaining opening to the game. Both sides are not afraid to commit men forward.
    • 16' Millwall have a free-kick on the wing from that foul. The ball is nodded down to Whitbread on the edge of the box and he shoots on the turn, but it's an easy save for the keeper.
    • 15' Sparrow goes into the book now for yet another late tackle by a Scunthorpe player.
    • 14' Scunthorpe come again and Hooper gets to the byline before firing a ball across.. It hits the outside of the post and goes out for a goal kick! A let-off for Millwall there.
    • 13' The delivery is poor though and Scunthorpe clear. They break forward through Woolford, who cuts inside and flashes a shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
    • 12' David Martin jinks down the left wing and wins the first corner of the game for Millwall.
    • 10' Togwell commits another reckless foul, and this time the referee has no choice but to book him.
    • 8' Gary Alexander slides in hard on Gary Alexander as the Millwall man runs forward. The referee gives Togwell a stern talking to, but resists bringing out a yellow card that would have been justified. Let's see how that sets the tone for the rest of the game.
    • 6' GOAL!! Woolford's shot is saved by Forde but the ball runs loose for Matt Sparrow to blast it into the roof of the net and give Scunthorpe an early lead!
    • 4' Harris bursts into the box on the left. His cross deflects off a defender and up into the air and HERE'S GRABBAN WITH THE HEADER... in the end the effort is tame and Murphy collects.
    • 3' Hooper wins a free-kick after dropping into midfield, but Scunnthorpe fail to make a chance from the set piece.
    • 2' Referee Michael Oliver is just 24 years old. His dad Clive took charge of the League Two Play-Off yesterday.
    • 1' The League one Play-Off final is underway! There are 45,000-odd Millwall fans at Wemley, and they're making a right racket!
    • 12:57 The teams are on the pitch, the anthem has been belted out and hands have been shaken - we're just moments away from kick-off...
    • 12:52 Scunny booked their place in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout at MK Dons, which ended 7-6 in the Iron's favour when Tore Andre Flo hit the crossbar with his spot-kick.
    • 12:50 Millwall reached Wembley after Nadjim Abdou's goal at Elland Road gave the Lions a 2-1 aggregate victory over Leeds United.

  • Summary

    • 90+4' The whistle goes and Scunthorpe win the Play-Off final! It's heartbreak for Millwall, but it's the Iron who will be playing Championship football next season.
    • 87' The flag stays down and Harris shoots for the far corner... tipped round the post by Murphy! Great save - every bit as vital as the goal.
    • 85' GOAL!! Scunthorpe have one effort miscued and another blocked, but the ball runs out to Martyn Woolford who drills a shot underneath Forde to put Scunnthorpe ahead! The keeper is culpable for letting the shot slip through his hands, but Woolford thoroughly deserves his goal.
    • 76' WHAT A MISS FROM ALEXANDER!! The Millwall striker can score from 35 yards out but fails to bury a header from the edge of the six-yard box! The Lions should be ahead again.
    • 70' GOAL!! Woolford bursts past Whitbread into the Millwall box and cuts a ball back for Sparrow, who has an age to take several touches before blasting in the equaliser!
    • 64' So close for Scunthorpe! From the corner Neil Harris blocks two efforts on the line before Andy Frampton heads clear at the far post!
    • 45' Woolford skips through two challenges and STRIKES... The shot is right at Forde and the keeper saves. Good chance for the equaliser from a player who has already caused plenty of problems for the Millwall defenders.
    • 39' GOAL!! Alexander scores again to put Millwall ahead! Murphy gets a hand to the downward header but can only look on as it trickles over the line.
    • 37' GOAL!! And what a goal it is from Gary Alexander! The Millwall striker turns a blasts a half-volley into the top corner from a full 30 yards out! A simply awesome strike.
    • 31' Neil Harris cuts a ball back across goal.. it's missed by two Millwall players and comes to Martin at the far post. He appears to take too long in adjusting his position but his shot rebounds off the boot of Mirfin and off the post!
    • 28' Woolford gets in front of his marker and tries to prod home from close range... Forde is quick to react and smothers the ball.
    • 6' GOAL!! Woolford's shot is saved by Forde but the ball runs loose for Matt Sparrow to blast it into the roof of the net and give Scunthorpe an early lead!
    • 4' Harris bursts into the box on the left. His cross deflects off a defender and up into the air and HERE'S GRABBAN WITH THE HEADER... in the end the effort is tame and Murphy collects.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Millwall

    Manager: Kenny Jackett

    Starting line-up

    • D. Forde
    • A. Dunne
    • A. Frampton Substitution Out (90′)
    • A. Bolder
    • Z. Whitbread
    • T. Craig Yellow Card
    • D. Martin
    • N. Abdou Substitution Out (45′)
    • L. Grabban Substitution Out (63′)
    • G. Alexander Goals×2
    • N. Harris

    Subs

    • P. Robinson Substitution In90′
    • L. Pidgely
    • M. Laird Substitution In45′
    • C. Hackett Substitution In63′
    • S. Barron

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Scunthorpe United

    Manager: Nigel Adkins

    Starting line-up

    • J. Murphy
    • C. Byrne
    • A. Crosby
    • D. Mirfin
    • I. Morris
    • M. Sparrow Goals×2 Yellow Card
    • G. McCann
    • S. Togwell Yellow Card Substitution Out (56′)
    • M. Woolford Goal
    • P. Hayes
    • G. Hooper Substitution Out (82′)

    Subs

    • G. Thompson
    • J. Forte Substitution In81′
    • L. Trotter Substitution In56′
    • J. Lillis
    • A. Wright

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 81 - 100 of 120

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. We’re the original football firm, of course we’re the­ worst!
    We’re the best organised
    we’re the most­ passionate
    we’re the hardest firm (pound for pound) in­ the country, always have been, always will be.
    It’s our­ tradition……….we’re MILLWALL.
    After all, no-one fackin­ likes us!!
    We got no choice but to stand up & front­ it out Ricky me boy. It’s what all the other nonces­ expect.
    We never run, EVER…& we rarely come off­ second best.

    From Mark P, on Sun 24 May 9:12PM

  2. I never said that at all, Leeds has some idiots as fans­ as do most teams and I heard of a group of so called­ Leeds fans that went looking for trouble after the semi­ final with Millwall but Leeds trouble is dieing out and­ isnt any where near what is was 15 years ago, millwall­ is however not making the progress.
    Like I said every­ team has its trouble but for Millwall its still­ organised and sounds like it is growning again!
    Was­ there a pitch invasion at Elland Rd..... No!
    Did Leeds­ go on the rampage after we lost the l;eague game at the­ New Den..... No!
    Was it Leeds invoved in the worst­ riots of recent Times with Cardiff....... No!
    Have­ Leeds fans stabbed any fans from teams that have beat­ us... No!
    Have Millwall done all the above....­ Yes!
    Millwall are far worse than Leeds and Im sure Tex­ will Testify that!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 8:57PM

  3. Oops, talk about Idiots, That was ment for another­ page! lol

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 8:47PM

  4. It is slighty worriying that people dont know Millwall­ is a town (Even Millwall fans) and that most seem to­ think that Scunthorpe is in Yorkshire...
    If Millwall­ isnt a Town and Is London then that means the same for­ Woolwich (Arsenal) Tottenham, Charlton, Chelsea etc etc­ where would there name come from? If its all London­ then the teams would be London United, London City,­ London Wonderers etc
    And the fact that people think­ Scunthorpe is in Yorkshire (Including people up here) I­ mean come on people, Are we turning into a nation of­ idiots!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 8:46PM

  5. well what you are saying is all leeds fans have halos­ and all millwall fans ar ethug which a think we all­ know is utter @#$%

    From e.smith6, on Sun 24 May 8:43PM

  6. that will teach millwall for steeling the game at leeds

    From allanfredgail, on Sun 24 May 8:26PM

  7. If Coach windows got smashed then its idiots that did­ that but there is a differance between smashing windows­ and knifing someone like has happend today! Im not­ deffending it and they should be banned for life from­ football games!
    Its all sells bad news for the English­ game and for any chance of us holding the World Cup!
    If­ the police can see this is happening and can see whats­ going to happen then wy cant the FA do something?
    Like­ someone said before if there is trouble deduct the team­ points, Lets see what they really support, the team or­ violence, God help Millwall as team if that came in!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 8:19PM

  8. No worries e.smith6
    They'll definitely know­ we've been in town next year ;)

    From tex, on Sun 24 May 8:10PM

  9. Well, as I said earlier, my husband was on duty today­ & was also at the Den for the Leeds match. I can­ confirm what these two thugs Mark P & tex are­ alluding to. My husband said there were known faces­ (previous troublemakers from years back) at the Den for­ the Leeds semi final match.
    They were also visible in­ large numbers today at Wembley.
    Genuine fans don’t want­ this, but Millwall still carries this strong­ undercurrent of hostility & thuggery around­ wherever we go. At certain games it’s very evident,­ particularly at the big games such as Leeds, Cardiff,­ Luton & other known hooligan clubs.
    Hubby­ was genuinely nervous & fearful today when he &­ his colleagues realised who was out & about at the­ match. They’re truly hoping these animals don’t decide­ to regroup next season, otherwise there really will be­ serious trouble brewing for all away fans.

    From mandy, on Sun 24 May 8:00PM

  10. who ever ricky is, is a complete @#$% i seem to remeber­ millwall coaches coming into elland road and getting­ their windows smashed in

    From e.smith6, on Sun 24 May 7:48PM

  11. Whatever if you were here this season you will have­ seen that its mainly kids and families that go to the­ games and just a few chavs that try to cause trouble­ after, By all means sort them out, Clean the city a­ bit!
    Your living in the Past, Leeds doesnt care for the­ trouble anymore, We are better than that!
    You will be­ kicking off though as you only kick off when you­ lose.....

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 7:14PM

  12. ha ha ha, yeah was a good larrrf today tex.
    Monty &­ Sav's crew (East Ham) were out & about...did­ you spot them?
    Can't wait for next­ season.....there's gonna be some FUN & games at­ away grounds next year for sure!!!!!!!
    WE ARE MILLWALL,­ SUPER MILLWALL, & we're back to terrorise a­ town near you soon!

    From Mark P, on Sun 24 May 7:10PM

  13. Today has been quite a nostalgic trip down memory lane­ for a few of the old Bushwack & Troop guys.
    Now­ we've got this item of business sorted, a good few­ of them are keen to come out of early retirement &­ lock horns with your mob again next season.
    You best­ get your chippies busy hammering your window & door­ boards up ready for our next visit Ricky me old mucker­ - this time some of the "old guard" are­ heading North & that aint good news for your fair­ city at all son LOL
    See you muppets next year ;)

    From tex, on Sun 24 May 7:04PM

  14. Whatever Tex, I have never been part of or ever will be­ paret of a Firm!
    Times have changed, Apart from t­ seems in Millwall, Its about the Football now, Not the­ fighting, You do your team more harm than good, you­ cant really support them!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 7:03PM

  15. You’re having a laugh Ricky. Huge city you might be,­ but we’ve always had your firms number old son.
    I’ve­ travelled to all the supposed top tier firms manors­ down the years, many many times, including a few­ European manors, & believe you me Leeds barely­ warranted more than a mid-week chat on the blower to­ our spotters & ground crew prior to a home or away­ game.
    we received harder resistance from f*ckin York­ than your poncy girl crews.

    From tex, on Sun 24 May 6:57PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well done scunny , keep the milwall thugs out of the ­ chapmoinship and where they belong. If any trouble­ they should get 20 pts immediate deduction and then­ booted out of footbals for the saek of all other fans.

    From A T, on Sun 24 May 6:53PM

  17. Your a small town in London, Leeds is a huge City in­ the UK and you think that the Leeds "Hardmen"­ are in a football crowd looking for a fight with a few­ "Thugs" Dont make me laugh, Like I said this­ is 2009 and they have far bigger fish to fry!
    You keep­ beating up teenagers and familys and thinking that your­ the hardest there is because every other hard firm has­ moved on!
    Grow up and get a grip!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 6:18PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Your an idiot!!!
    Its 2009 not 1979.
    Leeds dont carry on­ like you do any more.
    You going around smashing places­ up is like Ricky Hatton getting beat, Everyone else has­ retired and stopped the violence expept Millwall!!!
    You­ beat some of our hard men?? What hard men? They dont­ bother with football anymore all you beat was a few­ teenage chavs that "Thought" they were hard­ men.
    Your kicking @#$% out of Scunthorpe fans, Arnt you­ big! Beating up Familys.
    Ive said it beofre I will say­ it again, You want to fight take up boxing (Or is it to­ tough for you" You want to watch football then­ watch it and stop throwing your toys out the pram when­ you lose! Simple!..

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 6:13PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    typical millwall thugs, just cos ya lost..............

    From CHRIS S, on Sun 24 May 6:12PM

  20. of course we're tough Ricky me boy...we're­ fackin MILLWALL F-Troop. We also trashed your gaff,­ & a few of your nonce hard men fighters too, on the­ 2nd leg of the play-off gig. No-one, I mean NO-ONE­ comes away top dog when F-Troop hit the­ street.
    We're the enforcers in this league, &­ you better believe it son!

    From Mark P, on Sun 24 May 6:05PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account