Millers win comfortably in pre-season opener...
Rotherham United started pre-season with a win after a 7-0 success against a competitive Parkgate FC outfit.
The Millers secured victory after a first-half brace from Matt Crooks, was added to by goals from Joshua Kayode, Michael Smith, Carlton Morris and Jamie Proctor (2).
Paul Warne presided over a good initial work out from his side, who fly out to Germany on Monday morning for their week-long training camp.
The Millers started on the front foot when Kyle Vassell’s free-kick brought about the first effort on target, when his low drive was tipped around the post.
From the resulting corner, Kayode steered the loose ball beyond the ‘keeper for the opening goal.
The second goal arrived shortly after when Kayode found Crooks who coolly slotted into the corner from a tight angle.
Vassell was nearly in on the act but when stretching he steered the ball over from Smith’s right wing cross.
Smith turned from provider to scorer for the Millers’ third when Dan Barlaser found him wide before he expertly curled his effort into the top left corner.
Crooks almost had a spectacular fourth when his acrobatic effort flashed just over.
Before the break, Crooks did get his goal, tapping in after Barlaser’s shot was parried into his path.
Vassell was again unfortunate in front of goal as his 20 yarder smashed the outside of the post.
Half-time | Parkgate 0 v 4 Rotherham
Ben Wiles tested the Parkgate stopper just after the interval with a 20 yard free-kick which was held.
Proctor made his first appearance since returning from injury, and after Julien Lamy had supplied him possession, the striker cut inside to shot, but his low drive was held.
The Millers had to be patient for the fifth goal but after Jake Cooper crossed low after a deep corner, first Carlton Morris had a shot saved, with Proctor following in to score on the stretch.
Lamy was next to go close with a low shot wide of the near post, before being withdrawn soon after as a precaution.
A mazy run into the area saw Matthew Olosunde brought down for a penalty, with Proctor calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner for his second and Rotherham’s sixth.
Record signing Freddie Ladapo looked sharp and after a direct run at pace had the Parkgate defence on the back foot, he followed up with a fierce drive which flew just over.
Morris ended the scoring with five minutes remaining, cutting in from the left and striking a deflected shot into the bottom corner.
Full-time | Parkgate 0 v 7 Rotherham
1st half | Price; Jones, Ihiekwe, Wood, Mattock; Ajayi, Barlaser, Crooks; Kayode, Smith, Vassell.
2nd half | Price; Olosunde, Cooper, Robertson, Hinds; Lamy, Wiles, MacDonald; Morris, Ladapo, Proctor.