Win in Final Third cup...
Rotherham United’s reserves claimed victory in the Final Third Development League Cup at Roundwood with a 2-1 success over near neighbours Doncaster Rovers.
Matt Derbyshire put the Millers ahead early in the game but after Rovers levelled just after half-time, Richie Smallwood sealed all three points for Paul Raynor’s men with a calmly taken goal when fed by John Swift.
Steve Evans was in attendance for the game, and he and Raynor selected a strong side for the visit of Rovers with several players included from the squad against Fulham the previous evening.
It was one of those who made the breakthrough on 10 minutes. After Ryan Hall had volleyed over early in the game, Derbyshire showed great movement in the area to get on the end of Swift’s cross from the right and guide his header back across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
He came close to doubling his tally after racing clear but lifting his chip just wide of the post following Jordan Bowery making space for a shot which was saved by the feet of goalkeeper Marko Marosi.
Within a minute, Hall dragged another shot wide and Bowery twice went close only to be denied first by a deflection into the side netting and on 41 minutes by a fine Marosi save.
The second-half was providing a bit of a slow burner, with Conor Newton’s return from injury the only real talking point as he was introduced just prior to the break, but that soon changed on the hour mark as the visitors drew level. Substitute Jack McKay made space down the right, cutting back for Lewis Ferguson to side foot beyond Scott Loach and level the scores.
The scores didn’t remain level for long however and Swift again proved the provider as he slipped a ball into Derbyshire who sold the defender a dummy, allowing Smallwood to latch onto the ball and slot beyond Marosi into the bottom corner.
It was all Rotherham from there on in, with Newton providing much of the energy in the closing stages. The summer signing fired high over the bar after some excellent work by Swift down the right, and in injury time he had a volley comfortably saved before an excellent chip beat the ‘keeper but bounced down off the bar only for Milsom to volley high over the bar.
Millers: Loach, Wiles, Milsom, Peace-McDonald, Broadfoot, Smallwood, Swift, Wordsworth (Newton HT), Bowery, Derbyshire (Yates 73), Hall.
Unused: Denton, Warren, Hallett.
Doncaster: Marosi, Lund, Brown, Linley, McKay, Mbuti (Carberry HT), Ferguson, Middleton, Peterson (McKay HT), Mandeville (Davis 77), Whitehouse.
Unused: Iveson, Parkin.