Promotion chasing Valley and relegation threatened Town shared the points in this dour encounter at the Artic Stadium.
In a game of few chances and little quality, Valley will rue missing the opportunity of making up ground on fellow play-off hopefuls, while Liam Montague’s 89th minute free kick which struck an upright could have lifted the Wasps further clear of the relegation places.
Millers suffered pre-match disruption with the news that goalkeeper Chris Lewington had been taken ill – Sheppey United youngster Liam Northwood being signed as a last minute replacement – while Rory Hill returned from suspension to replace injured defender Nat Blanks.
After a tepid opening, it was Hill who had the first strike at goal of note after 20 minutes. Receiving the ball from Matt Warren, Hill’s low 20 yard drive was saved at the foot of the post by Wasps custodian Joe Ringer.
Set up with containment in mind, the visitors retaliated minutes later as Andrew Briggs’ free kick evaded the Millers’ defensive wall – Northwood saving well low to his left.
Leading goalscorer Marcel Barrington went close for Valley just minutes from the interval as he was played in by Ade Adeyemo before his shot was touched onto the foot of the post by Ringer.
The pattern of play remained much the same early in the second half as Denzel Gayle’s cross narrowly evaded the head of Hill close in, while Cem Tumkaya headed narrowly wide from Warren’s corner.
As the hosts midfield struggled to create opportunities against stubborn opposition, Hassan Ibrahiym replaced Connor Dymond in an effort break the deadlock but clear cut chances remained few and far between as the visitors rearguard comfortably held firm.
But the deadlock was so very nearly broken by Town just minutes before time as Paul Semakula brought down Omar Folkes just outside the Millers’ penalty area. Montaque’s free kick beat Northwood before striking the post midway up and falling to safety.
On a positive note, the clean sheet was the Millers’ first in fifteen matches since a 1-0 win over Ashford United at the end of October.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – Matt Warren – Industrious as ever in trying to find a way through the packed Wasps rearguard
MATCH RATING: – **
MILLERS : Northwood, Dymond © (Ibrahiym 62), Green, Semakula, Tumkaya, Gayle, Barrington (Sammoutis 90), Adeyemo, Brefo, Warren, Hill (Babalola 87)
Substitutes Not used : Day
WASPS : Ringer, Walsh, Straker (James-Lewis 82), Huckle, Green, Wilson ©, Cornwell, Briggs (Montague 65), Folkes, Battle (Brown 60), Summerfield
Substitutes Not used: Sanogo, Francis
Caution : Montague
Referee : Mark Pond
Assistants : Benjamin Rathe and Abdul Olol
Pic – Wasps keeper Joe Ringer denies Alex Brefo during a late Millers attack
Match Photos and Video by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos
Match Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGWiL2wgrw
Attendance: 110