Bevins goal isn't enough...
Academy Manager Garreth Barker was left with mixed feelings after the Millers were held to a 1-1 draw by Grimsby Town at SHU recently.
Ayrton Bevins scored the Millers’ only goal of the game as Barker’s men looked to avenge the previous week’s 5-0 reverse against Notts County, although results can fluctuate at an awkward time of the season, unique to youth team football.
“It’s an interesting time of year because you have Under 16s who are going to be scholars next year, you have trialists who want to break into the team and so it’s hard to find continuity and consistency in the performances but we played well and felt we should have won
“It was disappointing the way we conceded the goal. It should have been stopped at source and it was very simple. We switched off when the ball was only half-cleared but the finish was good and big Charlie (Bryan) didn’t stand a chance.
With no game the following week, the Millers sought minutes on the field from elsewhere, taking on a local college in a friendly game, and after the Youth Alliance season is brought to an end, they will be looking at higher placed opposition to keep the players fit ahead of the summer.
“We had a midweek game because we knew that there wasn’t a game at the weekend. We played Thomas Rotherham College who we have played a few times this season. Andy Norfolk got himself a hat-trick and Jerry Yates got a couple as well. It’s good when your centre-forwards are scoring goals.
“We play Bradford this week which will be a tough game and then after the last game against Chesterfield we have games pencilled in against Sheffield United, Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and we’ve spoken to people across the Pennines.