Julien Lamy netted a brace on Tuesday afternoon as Rotherham United Reserves took on Rochdale in the Central League Cup at Roundwood, but it wasn't enough to prevent Ciaran Toner's side from falling to defeat.
It was Rochdale who were the quickest out of the trips and they pulled themselves ahead after just two minutes. Matthew Gilliam teed up Keaton Mulvey to strike, and he powered one into the top corner from 20 yards after two minutes.
Just four minutes later and the visitors doubled their advantage in similar fashion as Ethan Brierley set his sights on target from range, and his dipping strike sailed into the roof of the net despite the best efforts of Laurence Bilboe.
As the Millers looked for a route back into the game, Lamy pressed high to win possession deep in the final third with 12 minutes on the clock. The winger then let fly, but Bradley Wade got down well to tip his low shot around the post.
Harrison Beeden was the next to have an attempt on goal after he broke forward down the right-hand side, but his viscous drive was bravely blocked by Harrison Hopper. It was Rotherham who continued to see more of the ball, but Rochdale’s rearguard remained resolute as Wade denied Jerome Greaves on 29 minutes.
As the half wore on both teams continued to jostle for control in midfield, but it was the Millers who found the net next to reduce the deficit. Lamy picked up the ball in a dangerous area, and he shaped a perfectly executed finish into the bottom corner beyond the reaches of the goalkeeper.
Half-Time | Reserves 1-2 Rochdale
Following the restart, it was Rochdale who replicated their fast opening of the first half as they stretched their lead with 50 minutes on the clock. Hopper carried the ball forward before picking out Gillam with a low cross, and he applied the final touch with aplomb.
With an hour on the clock, Rotherham had a golden opportunity once again as Gratton ran towards the byline. Despite Rochdale’s appeals that the ball had ran out of play the referee was unmoved, but Greaves could only slice his effort wide of the target from 12 yards.
The Millers make a spell of pressure pay after 62 minutes, and it was Lamy who doubled his own tally in style. After receiving the ball in a central area, the Frenchman opened up his body and bent a thunderous strike into the top corner of the net from just outside of the box.
Despite their best efforts, Rotherham couldn’t find an equaliser and it was Rochdale who widened the margin to two once more on 77 minutes. Mulvey raced through before sliding a finish under the body of the onrushing Bilboe to wrap things up.
Full-Time | Reserves 2-4 Rochdale
Teams
Rotherham United: Bilboe; Beeden, Hull, Cooper, Hinds (C); Lamy, Spence, Peel-Evans (Scott 85'), Gratton (Kenny 85'); Trialist (Gateshill 62'); Greaves (Etia 85').
Unused substitutes: Ellis.
Rochdale: Wade (Piper 86'), Gillam, Morley (C) (Lee 84'), Dunne, Sloan, Brierley, Mialkowski (Charlton 86'), Hopper, Mulvey, Bradley (Wright 74'), Moreland.
Unused substitutes: Piper, Kisimba.