Academy 1 v 1 Mansfield - Report
The last time the Millers youngsters were in action was on home turf with Mansfield Town providing the opposition in a game that ended with honours even at 1-1.Jerry Yates opened the scoring early on before Mansfield debutant Joe Bayne earned his side a share of the spoils with his leveller.
The two sides couldn’t be separated in a tightly contested encounter at Bawtry Road with Academy Manager Garreth Barker pleased with the outcome:
“It was a good game and a well-fought contest and a draw in the end. But like when we played Chesterfield, we needed to capitalise on our chances and be a little bit more clinical.”
Loan departures in the Millers’ ranks also prompted a reshuffle in the pack allowing some of the younger players to get some game time:
“With Peter Denton and Andy Norfolk out on loan, it allowed some of the other lads to stake a claim for a shirt,” said Barker.
The goal also marked the end of a productive week in Yates’ development, with the youngster finding the net for three different teams in a seven day period, a feat that left Barker proud of the promising forward:
“Jerry Yates got the goal, having been able to feature for us because Harrogate Railway didn’t have a game at the weekend. It’s really positive because he’s scoring for Harrogate, he’s scored in the reserves in midweek and netted again at the weekend for us and that means he’s putting himself in a good position at the moment."