Rotherham United started pre-season with 7-0 victory over Parkgate FC at Roundwood.
Striker Danny Ward bagged a hat-trick as the Millers beat the part-timers in the annual pre-season fixture at the club training ground in front of another healthy crowd who braved the inclement conditions.
The Millers split their side into two, with a mixture of first team professionals, development players and trialists taking part in both halves.
The hosts provided some stern resistance in the first half restricting the Millers to limited opportunities.
Alan Stubbs' side thought they had the lead when Mason Warren delivered from the left, before the ball was turned back into the six yard area where Stephen Kelly scuffed a shot goalwards, and Jonson Clarke-Harris stabbed home only for the offside flag to deny the striker.
Clarke-Harris then had his afternoon prematurely ended after an awkward fall, and despite his efforts to continue, he was eventually replaced by Darnelle Bailey-King.
The visitors crafted another opportunity when two first year professionals combined. Sub Bailey-King raced down the left before crossing for Kuda Muskwe who acrobatically tuned an effort just wide.
The Millers then eventually took the lead just before the break when a cross from the right was headed into the bottom corner by Kirk Broadfoot, who rose well under pressure.
At the start of the second half Bailey-King fired over the bar from just inside the area as the Millers went in search of a second goal.
The Millers didn't have to wait too long when Ward crashed a shot against the underside of the bar after a cross from the right, with Trialist on hand to tap in the rebound.
A low shot from Jerry Yates forced 'keeper Howard into a low stop as the Millers looked to turn the screw.
Yates was denied again soon after this time by the offside flag when he followed up a shot from distance only to see his finish matched by the offside flag.
An own goal made it 3-0 to the Millers after a low cross into the near post.
Ward then showed a burst of a pace after receiving a back heel from Yates to sprint into the area, before rounding the 'keeper to blast the ball into the empty net to make it four.
The floodgates were now well and truly open when a cross from the right was expertly turned into the net by Yates for the Millers fifth.
With five minutes remaining the Millers saved the best for the end when Ward bagged his second. After picking up the ball on the angle of the area he rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner to leave Howard with no chance.
It got better for Ward when he sealed his hat-trick in injury time slotting home coolly as the Millers sealed a winning start to pre-season.
Parkgate: Howard; Lennahan, Mumbaya, Laight, Haigh, Foulds, Cuckson, Mbeka, Moore, Lill, Thornton.
Subs: S. Thornton, Nicholson, Hannah, Mayala, Morley, Cole.
Rotherham (first half): Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Halford, Rose, Warren, Trialist, Dawson, Trialist, Muskwe, Clarke-Harris.
Rotherham (second half): Trialist; Trialist, Wood, Thorpe, Mattock, Forde, Smallwood, Trialist, Bailey-King, Ward, Yates.