Millers reserves fall to defeat in the north east...
A young Rotherham United side fell to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Gateshead in the Final Third Development League on Monday afternoon.A Luke Armstrong hat-trick added to strikes from Mechack Kanda and Matty Pattison saw Micky Cummins’ side triumph in the north east despite a noble effort from a youthful Millers’ outfit.
With the first team taking some time away from match action following their triumph at Ipswich Town at the weekend, it was left to the Millers youngsters to deputise for the trip to the International Stadium with a number of schoolboys included in the trip to the north east.
The hosts started brightly and were ahead after 10 minutes had elapsed when Kanda met Armstrong’s low cross to prod Gateshead in front.
Armstrong would play a pivotal role in the Tynesiders’ second, this time adding the finishing touches to a well-worked corner.
Half-time: Gateshead 2 v 0 Rotherham.
Gateshead carried their momentum into the second half and had to wait just five minutes before adding a third to their tally, with Pattison getting in on the act as he beat Harry Fidler in the Millers’ goal on 50 minutes.
A fourth followed moments after the hour-mark with Armstrong on target again, this time applying the finish to Rob Ramshaw’s centre to put clear daylight between the sides.
The Gateshead forward capped a fine individual performance as he capitalised on a slip in the youthful Millers’ rearguard to earn himself the matchball in the dying embers of the game.
Full-time: Gateshead 5 v 0 Rotherham
Gateshead: Alexander, Froggatt, Holden, Holden, Chandler, Shaw, Perry, Elliott, Ramshaw, Armstrong, Pattison, Kanda.
Subs: Cassidy, Hailes, Leedham, Ashton, Lamb.
Millers: Fidler, Atherton, Abraham, Murr, Saxton, Peace-McDonald, Trialist, Martin, James, Muskwe, Bailey-King.
Subs: Bilboe, Adeyemi, Parnell-Wilson, Diouf, Rose