THE goal that set Rotherham on the road to victory came from a man who once had a trial for Vasco da Gama, but Accrington Stanley may take an age to discover just how they managed to lose this game.

The Reds had a string of chances to win last night’s League Two fixture at Sheffield’s Don Valley Stadium, but in the end the only men who could find the net were Rotherham duo Omar Daley and Adam Le Fondre.

Signing for the Millers may not quite be as glamorous as the opportunity that Jamaican winger Daley once had to join Brazilian football giants Vasco da Gama.

But the on-loan Bradford man made a decisive contribution once more against Stanley, having been a real danger man as his parent club earned a point against the Reds in November.

This fixture had been one of seven Stanley games to be called off since the start of December. Sadly, in this case, it was just postponing the inevitable.

The Reds had won just once in their previous 12 visits to Rotherham and, like last season when they dominated but lost, the longer the game went on the more it seemed likely that they would pay for their profligacy in front of goal.

Leam Richardson was out through injury so Luke Joyce came into the Stanley line-up, with Charlie Barnett moving to the left flank.

Stanley could have been ahead after only 50 seconds as Joyce’s pass into the box was laid off by Terry Gornell and Ian Craney was completely unmarked 10 yards out.

Sadly, the killer touch eluded him and he somehow fired wide when he should have scored. But another chance followed only five minutes later as Gornell’s poked shot forcing a save from Andy Warrington.

The Reds were playing with a real purpose against a home side fourth in League Two at kick-off, and they came close once more when Andy Procter worked himself into a good position but could not quite find the top corner.

The Millers had the first chance of the second half as Le Fondre’s quick throw caught out the Stanley defence but Liam Henderson could only fire across goal.

Soon afterwards Henderson was appealing for a penalty as he fell to earth in the box but the ball immediately broke loose for Daley to slam home.

The Reds had an opportunity to equalise as Gornell found himself unmarked, but his volley was too close to Warrington.

Within the space of a minute, the keeper then had to deny Gornell once more before diving full length to keep out Joyce’s 20-yard drive.

Stanley must have wondered just how they were behind as sub Sean McConville then crossed and Gornell headed over from six yards.

The goal would not come and defeat was confirmed deep in stoppage time as Rother-ham caught Stanley short at the back and Le Fondre scored his eighth career goal against the Reds with a clinical finish.

Stanley still have games in hand but, 12 points behind the play-offs and 19th in the table, their promotion hopes are starting to look seriously faint.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin; Dean Winnard, Phil Edwards, Sean Hessey, Joe Jacobson; Luke Joyce, Andy Procter; Jimmy Ryan, Ian Craney (Ray Putterill 86), Charlie Barnett (Sean McConville 61); Terry Gornell. Subs not used: Alex Cisak, Kevin Long, Peter Murphy, Craig Lindfield, Rory Boulding.

Rotherham: Andy Warrington; Dale Tonge, Johnny Mullins, Nick Fenton, Tom Newey; Marcus Marshall (Danny Harrison 84), Nicky Law, Jason Taylor, Omar Daley; Liam Henderson, Adam Le Fondre. Subs not used: Jamie Annerson, Jamie Green, Luke Ashworth, Mark Bradley, Mark Randall, Paul Warne.

Referee: Mark Brown.

Attendance: 2,529.