Rotherham United

The Millers Academy secured another win last weekend and supplied a contender for goal of the season as they beat Grimsby Town 4-1 at Graham Solley Sports Centre.

Garreth Barker’s youngsters ran out comfortable winners over the Mariners in South Yorkshire in a game where Jerry Yates’ screamer just milliseconds into the game stole the headlines, before the promising young forward went on to complete his hat-trick.

Adverse weather conditions in recent weeks meant that the game against Grimsby was played on an artificial surface, but that didn’t hinder the Millers who turned in a superb performance and recorded a convincing victory:

“We had to play on the astro turf again because the snow situation a few weeks ago has left our pitch in a state below what we require,” Barker explained.

“We’ve had a few good results recently with a draw and a couple of wins and we had a little bit of momentum from that going into the game.”

The referee’s whistle had barely finished sounding as Yates’ wonderfully executed lob direct from the kick off flew over the visiting goalkeeper and into the net to put the Millers ahead in spectacular fashion:

“We got off to a good start when Jerry Yates scored directly from the kick off of the match. He and Kuda took the kick off and Jerry has just opened his body up and lobbed the ‘keeper from the centre spot.

“At any standard of football that is an astounding feat to master and I’ve got to be honest it caught everyone off guard including myself, as I was still setting my watch for the start of the game!”

Kuda Muskwe has been in fine form in front of goal of late and netted again last Saturday with Barker pleased with the progress of his young forward:

“Kuda also got himself on the scoresheet again which is excellent with him being a first year. He is starting to find the net on a regular basis and his goal took us in at 4-0 up at the break.”

The Millers maintained their application after the restart but couldn’t prevent a consolation for the visitors, with the Academy Manager left delighted at his side’s professionalism:

“I’m very pleased with the application of the players after half time. I think it’s easy for the younger players to get complacent when they’re 4-0 up at the break but they didn’t do that."