Millers held at Glanford Park...
Rotherham United’s reserves were held to a 0-0 draw against Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park.
The first-half proved frustrating for both sides as they went close several times in the opening exchanges, before a steady end to the half with little created.
There were only three minutes on the clock when Callum Howe got across the front of his man to meet Etienne Esajas’ inswinging corner, but fortunately Scott Shearer was alert to save low to his near post. Almost immediately Michael Williamson let fly from the edge of the area only to see his effort glance the top of the crossbar.
Nicky Walker, fresh from a loan spell at Barrow took aim from distance on seven minutes, but following a lung-busting run through the defence, couldn’t generate the power to beat James Severn in the Scunthorpe goal.
With the crossbar still shaking from his earlier effort, Williamson got on the end of a cross from the right but couldn’t keep his volley down and agonisingly watched as it hit the empty terrace behind the goal.
Midway through the half former Sheffield Wednesday winger Esajas switched to the right flank and twice cut in on his stronger foot only to be denied by Shearer, first with a fingertip save and following this a routine catch.
The second period picked-up as the first ended with neither side being able to really create anything of note until Curtis Bateson was fed down the left and as he opened up his body saw Shearer again stretch out an arm to deny the home side.
The Millers strike duo of Connor Bell and Matt Tubbs both found a route to goal via opposite methods but both suffered the same fate; Bell racing clear down the left before chipping just wide of the far post, before the more experienced Tubbs made his way in form the right and fired into the side netting.
The best passage of play came 65 minutes in with Nicky Walker a key factor. The youngster skipped two challenges and then exchanged passes with Tubbs before squaring the ball for Bell six yards out who lifted the bal high into the stands whilst sliding in.
With five minutes to go, substitute James Cadman found himself with a glorious chance to take the points for Rotherham when he intercepted a crossfield ball on halfway before skipping inside but after beating the goalkeeper saw his shot bounce just the wrong side of the post.
Scunthorpe: Severn, Byrne, Williams, Collins, Howe (Grayson 61), Waterfall, Hornsey, Boyce, J. Wootton (K. Wootton 61), Bateson, Esajas
Unused: Weaver, Sutton, Hare
Millers: Shearer, Lucas, Mills (Wigley 54), Rowe, Johnson, Bevins (Cadman 82), Watson, Williamson, Walker, Tubbs, Bell.
Unused: Wiles