Rotherham United

Rotherham United got their pre-season off to a winning start, with a 2-0 victory over Parkgate in scorching heat at Roundwood.

Following a goalless first-half, manager Steve Evans made 10 changes for the second period, and saw the game settled by two Daniel Nardiello goals. 

Adam Collin, Richard Brindley and Danny Hylton all got their first run out in a Millers shirt ahead of the first-half, whilst Nicky Walker and Dan Rowe were also in the starting line-up.

And it was Walker who made much of the early running, cutting in from the left-hand side and firing goalwards, only to see his shot tipped over by an in-form ‘keeper. There was little action of note to follow before Walker again stung the palms of the goalkeeper, after picking the ball up on the touchline, beating three players infield and eventually being denied low to the near post.

Two more shots were tipped over, firstly when Mitchell Rose took aim from distance and then when Rowe attacked a set-piece and stabbed goalwards. From the resultant corner of the latter, Rowe again had a chance but blazed over from close-range. 

Hylton thought he’d broken the deadlock on the half hour mark when Rose put him through on goal; he rounded the ‘keeper and rolled into an empty net, but was denied by the linesman’s flag. The former Aldershot man went close again just before half-time but his shot  on the turn was blocked.

Only youngster Rowe remained on the pitch for the second period, as manager Steve Evans changed things around, with three more debuts, this time for Rob Milsom, David Worrall and Michael Tidser entering the fray. 

However, it was three familiar faces who went closest in the first 10 minutes of the half as skipper Johnny Mullins headed at the goalkeeper, Ben Pringle curled wide and Alex Revell volleyed just past the post from Worrall’s cross.

Milsom, operating at left-back had a shot from distance go narrowly over before trying his luck with a header, but with the same result.

Just after the hour mark, Nardiello broke the deadlock when he volleyed into the bottom corner from David Worrall’s cross and after him and striker partner Revell both went close later in the half, he sealed the game with a low left-footed drive from the edge of the box. 

Millers first-half: Collin, Brindley, Rowe, Morgan, Skarz, Rose, O’Connor, Noble, Walker, Hylton, Agard.

Millers second-half: Shearer, Bradley, Mullins, Rowe, Milsom, Worral, Frecklington, Tidser, Pringle, Revell, Nardiello.