I was surprised to read the crowd was over 3,500, we guessed at about 2,500. Only the Upper Tiers were open and the side stand to our left was closed apart from the executive boxes.
The game saw us start brightly (same starting XI as Saturday), looking much sharper,but then with a bit of deja-vu we were down to 10 men with only 20 minutes gone.
A ball was put over the head of Butters, he was beaten for pace and as last man when he committed a foul it was always going to be a red card. The resulting free kick on the edge of the box was put wide.
Millwall tried to push forward but didn't look a great team, but they started to take control of the game away from us. Just before half time we conceded a corner, it was floated across, Henderson failed to get to the ball and it was 1-0 to Millwall as one of the players out of a crowded box got his head to the ball.
Our only real threat of the half had been a great snap shot by Cox early in the half, but the keeper pushed it round the post.
Second half and the ball was going from end to end. Robinson sprang to life for the last 20 minutes (once John replaced the injured El-abd (hope his injury isn't too bad - he was stretchered off).
With 15 left Gatting replaced Revell and Mayo for Fraser. We pushed forward more and more, Robinson forced the keeper into a smart save. Gatting won some useful balls in the air and we started to put the pressure on.
As the clock ticked down it looked like another night of frustration, but then Robinson was put through wide to the right by Cox, he cut inside and drove the ball past Day and a Millwall defender helped the ball into the net!
We survived the 5 minutes of added time, in fact playing it out rather than pushing for the winner.
Thankfully no extra time and straight to penalties
Millwall player puts the ball wide of the post 0-0
Hammond - coolly slots home 1-0 Albion
Millwall score easily 1-1
Cox's penalty well saved 1-1
Millwall player puts the ball over the bar 1-1
Robinson scores a good penalty 2-1
Millwall score 2-2
Gatting see his shot deflected at the last moment by Days boot 2-2
Henderson makes a great save diving to his left 2-2
Mayo casually slots the ball home to the keepers right with him going the other way to win the shoot out 3-2
Our players celebrate and run from the far end to celebrate with us lot behind the goal.
So into the Southern Semi Final - great stuff
Saturday sees Butters, El-Abd and Whing all suspended, Bowditch injured, will Charlton let us play John??
Mark R