Millers record victory at Glanford Park in Final Third Development League...
An experienced Rotherham United side ran out comfortable winners at Scunthorpe United as they recorded a 3-1 victory at Glanford Park in the Final Third Development League.First half goals courtesy of Emmanuel Ledesma and Jonson Clarke-Harris gave the Millers a cushion at the interval before Luciano Becchio put the visitors out of sight in the second half.
Scunthorpe did muster a late consolation as Kyle Wootton applied a tidy finish to Hakeeb Adelakun’s centre but it was the visitors who recorded maximum points from the second string fixture on Tuesday night.
Andy Hughes marshalled the dugout with Millers’ boss Neil Redfearn present in the stands as a side containing the likes of club captain Lee Frecklington and Luciano Becchio amongst other senior names put on a dominant display against the Iron.
The Millers' crafted the first chance of note on a chilly evening at Glanford Park from a well-worked corner routine that saw Farrend Rawson rise highest to head Emmanuel Ledesma's set piece narrowly over the bar.
Moments later the visitors thought they had taken the lead when Jonson Clarke-Harris applied a deft touch to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, only to see his effort drop onto the crossbar before bouncing over
The Millers continued to apply the pressure and threatened in the air again after a series of dangerous Ledesma deliveries were repelled before Clarke-Harris stood a cross up at the back post which narrowly evaded Rawson who was ready to pounce.
Andy Hughes' side's pressure finally told just shy of the 20 minute-mark as the Millers took a deserved lead. A free kick 25 yards from goal gave Ledesma invitation to shoot and his free kick took a wicked deflection on it's route to goal to put his side ahead.
Scunthorpe forged their first real opening from a set piece in the aftermath of the goal with Gary McSheffrey's cross finding Jack Dyche in the box who headed over from close range.
Things settled down in front of goal Lancashire with both sides jostling for position until a clever knock down from Clarke-Harris allowed Jerry Yates the opportunity to crash a volley goalwards that flew over the bar from the edge of the area.
The pair combined again on the left flank moments later and Clarke-Harris’ powerful run allowed Yates room for a shot, which he lashed narrowly wide of the far post from the edge of the area.
Clarke-Harris’ first half endeavour was eventually rewarded with a goal and it was more industrious work in the final third that allowed him to open the scoring. The one-time Doncaster Rovers man applied pressure to the Iron defence before keeping his cool to slot beyond Ben Ledger to double the Millers’ advantage two minutes before the break.
Half-time: Scunthorpe United 0 v 1 Rotherham United
The Millers began the second half in a similar vein to the way they finished the opening 45 minutes and almost added to their lead moments after the restart. Lewis Buxton’s adventurous forward run down the right flank saw him bear down on goal only to blaze an effort over on the angle.
The former Sheffield Wednesday right back continued to prove a thorn in the Iron defence’s side and he almost turned provider for Yates as he raced up the wing to fizz in a cross which was hastily cleared behind for a corner by a backtrackin Scunthorpe defender.
Second half substitute Darnelle Bailey-King has impressed in recent behind closed doors outings for the Millers and continued to show his promise at Glanford Park. Moments after his introduction he stepped inside from the left flank before unleashing a fierce effort which flew over the bar from the edge of the area.
The hosts came close to halving the deficit when Dyche once again got the leap on his man at the back post and should have made the net ripple with his header that he planted wide of the target.
That miss would prove costly and the hosts were made to pay when an explosion of pace from Bailey-King on the left flank allowed him a break into the box before Luciano Becchio ensured he was in the right place at the right time to tap home from close range, applying the faintest of touches to make it 3-0.
10 minutes from time the hosts did craft a consolation goal and it was Hakeeb Adelakun who produced some wing wizardry to create it. A skilful run down the left flank saw him skip clear of the challenge of Tom Rose before flashing in a centre for Kyle Wootton who couldn’t miss from five yards out.
Full-time: Scunthorpe United 1 v 3 Rotherham United.
Millers: Cairns, Buxton, Wood, Rawson (Wiles 63), Warren, Ledesma, Thorpe (Peace-McDonald 78), Frecklington © (Rose 43), Yates, Becchio, Clarke-Harris (Bailey-King 61).
Unused: Bilboe.
Scunthorpe United: Ledger, McAllister, Boyce ©, Goode, Dyche, Adelakun, McSheffrey (Burdett 62), Wootton, Burtroid, McMichael, Dean-Atkinson.
Unused: Parker, Sithole, Baker, Cleminshaw.
Attendance: 121.