Rotherham A and B took on Bury and Accrington Stanley
Rotherham United A- 5 v Bury A- 1Bury started by causing Rotherham problems early on with long range efforts, but Jay Ford in the Millers goal made some smart stops to keep the score at 0-0.
But it was Rotherham who took the lead with an unexpected drive from Joe Briggs, which caught the Bury goalkeeper off guard.
The game was soon level again after a smart counter attack from Bury, which finished with a snap shot that caught Ford off-guard.
This woke Rotherham up and they started to play some better football. The intuitive movement and crisp one touch football gave the Millers’ their second from Connor Green, and the third goal quickly followed through Jake Heeley after another smart move involving Dan Sidall, Dom Walker and Kasey Scott.
Rotherham then shifted into cruise control in the second half. Bury was pushing to get back into the game, but the rotation of movement and quick play was too much for Bury at times, and the game finished 5-1 with another two goals scored by Joe Briggs and Connor Green.
Rotherham United B- 6 v Accrington Stanley B- 2
Rotherham got off to the worst of starts by conceding early on. However, it turned out to be the push the team needed to play some fantastic Futsal.
Rotherham’s first goal came from some fantastic dribbling from Hussein Salem, who took the ball round two players, the goal keeper and played it through towards Luke Easten to smash the ball home to make sure.
The goals were then started to flow in thick and fast for the Millers. Salem grabbed his first of the game to make it 2-1 to Rotherham, and he soon grabbed another to make it 3-1 after a great pass from Easten, who said: “It was to make up for pinching the first.”
Nicky Markham scored the fourth after a good dribble from Brad Blamires and cleaver combination play involving Adam Burton and Joe Hobson.
Markham grabbed another goal to make it 5-1, and Salem got his well deserved hat-trick just before half-time to make the score 6-1 to Rotherham.
Accrington came out of traps blazing in the second half. They looked a completed reinvented side, by dominating possession and carving out some great chances, which Dan Hoades in the Millers goal kept out expertly. Accrington did manage to pull one back, but the game was already Rotherham’s.
Joe Briggs, the Futsal squad captain, said: “The games were really entertaining throughout. In the A team game Bury matched us a lot for quality and possession, but we managed to create overloads when counter attacking, with good movement which helped us in scoring the goals we did.
“Credit to Bury, they pushed us all the way and they had some good players who were exploiting our weaknesses in defence, but we spotted this early and got compact and defended well.
“The B team game was fantastic to watch in the first half. Hussein was vital in the win with his individual brilliance, which helped create and score goals. The Team defended well, even with a lot of attacking minded players on the court at one time.
“Both wins were vital and to help us continue our development and momentum in the league and reaching our goals for the season.”
If you would like to know more about the RUCST's Futsal Scholarship, contact Mark Wilkinson on:
Mobile: 07538549061
Phone: 01709 827767
Email: mark.wilkinson@rotherhamunited.net
For more information on the RUCST, go to: www.rucst.co.uk