The Millers begin their pre-season campaign with a win...
Rotherham United began their pre-season friendly fixtures with a victory after a 6-0 success over a spirited Parkgate side.
The part-timers played most of the game with 10 men, but put in a battling performance as the Millers eased to an expected victory over the Northern Counties East League side.
Steve Evans fielded six of seven new signings for the first pre-season outing at Roundwood in front of a bumper gathering at the home of the Steelmen.
Joe Mattock, Aidy White, Emmanuel Ledesma, Tom Thorpe, Danny Collins and Greg Halford all played a part as the Millers got their pre-season campaign underway.
The Millers took the lead on nine minutes when Ledesma arrowed in a low drive after a pass from Jordan Bowery, which beat David Reay at his near post. It was soon 2-0 when Ben Langford handled a goalbound effort on the line and he was promptly given his marching orders by referee Dean Bradshaw. Paul Green stepped up and confidently stroked the penalty beyond Reay.
The Millers should have made it three but after a great break from Jonson Clarke-Harris, his cross was stabbed over by Bowery. They went close again before the break but White’s shot was cleared off the line, whilst a glancing header from Richard Wood also fell just wide.
Steve Evans, who was joined in the dugout by new first team coach Eric Black, made 11 changes at the break giving the majority of his first team squad a run out.
The Millers soon made it 3-0 when trialist Grant Ward thundered in an effort from just outside the area, which left Reay with no chance.
The part-timers were now starting to feel the pace and on 66 minutes the Millers added a fourth. Danny Ward chased a through ball in behind the Parkgate defence and he coolly slid the ball under the ‘keeper with a neat finish.
Inside the final 20 minutes the Millers made it a five star performance when Jerry Yates crossed from the right, and Reay fumbled the ball into the net.
Ward was in the mood for more goals and after a mazy run down the left he cut into the area, but blazed his shot wide of the far post.
In the closing stages Halford went close with a shot which was blocked from a tight angle, whilst Ward fired over after a fumble from Reay, following another Halford effort.
The Millers finished in style with three minutes remaining when Yates volleyed in superbly from a Mattock cross.
Parkgate: Reay; Johnson, Lowe, Abdulla, Varley, Langford, Bates, Wesley, Bond, Lytham, Graham.
Subs: Wragg, Dawson, Whittington, L. Johnson, Foulds, Ashton, Redfearn, Roe, Emson, Wood, Guarini, Douglas.
Rotherham (Half-time changes in brackets): Collin; (Loach), Richardson (Dickinson, Wood (Collins), Thorpe (Peace-McDonald), Warren (Mattock), Ledesma (Yates), Smallwood (G.Ward), Green (Frecklington), White (Bailey-King) Clarke-Harris (Ward), Bowery (Halford).