Rotherham United's second string fell to an odd goal in five home defeat against their counterparts from Port Vale.
Both The Millers and Vale fielded youthful looking sides. Veteran striker Paul Warne was included in the Millers starting eleven, alongside summer capture Marcus Marshall and full-back, Jamie Green to make up the Millers first team representatives.
Vale included only three regular first-team players themselves. Keeper Chris Martin, left-back Kris Taylor and midfielder Tommy Fraser were put in alongside the highly-rated striker Anthony Malbon.
Neither side really looked like breaking the deadlock in the opening blows. A long range effort from Vale forward Malbon didn't worry Jamie Annerson and he watched the effort go wide of his right hand post.
The first meaningful strike on goal came on 16 minutes and it brought the first goal of the game. Fraser wasn't closed down by the Millers' defence and they were made to regret it when his 25-yard effort flew past a helpless Annerson into the top corner.
The Millers had been forced into an early change. Striker Michael Whitwell went off holding his arm and was replaced by Conor Hiley.
Rotherham had to improve after a slow start, but the slippery surface resulted in through balls to the front two constantly running all the way through to Martin in the Vale goal.
When Rotherham did score it was via a stroke of luck. Warne's initial effort on goal was blocked by the Vale defence, but was returned with interest by Ollie Banks and his low effort was deflected in via a deflection off Warne.
The Millers' parity didn't last long though. Vale went back up the other end and Malbon's hooked shot found the bottom corner. Insult was then added to injury as Kristian Cox stretched Vale's advantage to two following neat build-up play.
The game had sprung to life following a slow start and more of the same came in the second period.
Alec Denton was taken off at half time and replaced by Joe Gaughan. Marshall was then moved up front. Rotherham immediately looked more threatening. First a Green effort was dragged wide, then Gaughan's cross come shot flashed wide.
A neat one two between Warne and Marshall gave the Millers the chance to get one back. Warne had a clear site on goal, but Davis' challenge forced the referee to point to the spot and Warne got up to send Martin the wrong way.
From then on, chances were few and far between. Rotherham were looking a lot more threatening with Marshall in a more advanced position and it was Marshall who came closest to getting the Milers level. His mazy run was followed by a shot that was deflected just wide for a corner that amounted to nothing.
Port Vale almost grabbed a clincher in the last minute. Again Fraser was given a clear site of goal and his effort rattled the crossbar.
ROTHERHAM UNITED: Annerson, Hatton (Royles, 80), Green, Snee, Ashworth, Banks, Denton (Gaughan, 45), Darley, Warne, Whitwell (Hiley, 12), Marshall. Subs not used: Lord, Hancock.
PORT VALE: Martin, Raglan, Taylor, Morsy (Connolly, 86), Bratt, Davis, Rice, Fraser, Malbon, Cox (McGowan, 45), Lloyd. Subs not used: Johnson, Lee, Thorley.
Report: Ashley Ball
