A young Rotherham United side tasted defeat in The Central League Cup as they were beaten 3-1 by Notts County on Tuesday afternoon.
Ciaran Toner took charge of an outfit made up of players from the club’s Academy setup as they locked horns with a Magpies team boasting mixed levels of experience at Ilkeston Town’s New Manor Ground.
Goals from Kion Ete, Noor Husin and Sam Osborne proved too much for the Millers, despite a 57th minute reply from Jacques Etia for the Millers as the Magpies maintainted their unbeaten run in the second string cup competition.
The hosts took the early initiative when Kion Ete capped a nice move which had seen the lively Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain burst forward before pulling it back for his teammate to finish confidently.
It remained 1-0 until the interval but the Millers would reply shortly after the restart. Mitchell Carlton’s free kick found Tiernan Brooks in the Notts County goal at his best as Toner’s men issued an early second half warning side but the equaliser would come in slightly less stylish circumstances soon after.
This time Brooks failed to clear a Millers corner which resulted in a penalty area melee ensuing before the ball ended up in the back of the net, with Etia the man to pounce and apply the final touch in a crowded box.
However, the Millers found themselves trailing again just two minutes later as Notts County capitalised having enjoyed a series of chances following the restart.
Tyreece Kennedy-Williams advanced forward from the full back position to release Noor Husin on goal and he made no mistake after a fine first touch, slotting coolly past ‘keeper Charlie Farrar.
A set piece yielded a third for Notts County with Andy Kellett the provider for Sam Osborne, who leapt highest in the area to power home a header from six yards out.
Millers | Farrar; Hodgkinson, Hull, Southern-Cooper, Beeden; Hutchinson (Gateshill 76), Carlton, Peel-Evans (Spence 67), Gratton; Lewthwaite, Etia (Diouf 83).
Unused | Wenham, Johnson.