Millers triumph over Mariners...
Rotherham United’s reserves further improved their chances of lifting the Central League title on Tuesday, as they ran out as 3-1 victors over Grimsby Town.
A predominantly youthful outfit which included experience in the form of Matt Palmer, Darren Potter and Jerry Yates and one of last week’s two trialists, travelled to the Mariners’ training ground at Cheapside for the second string clash.
Goals from Trialist and Yates set the Millers on their way before the break, with Joshua Kayode putting the visitors out of sight in the second half. Rumarn Burrell’s late volley served only as a consolation for the Mariners.
Matt Hamshaw’s side drew first blood in Lincolnshire after a tidy solo effort from their trialist put them ahead. Cutting in from the wing, the Frenchman chested the ball down before lashing the ball into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.
The Millers’ second came from the penalty spot, when after a good switch of play, youngster Jacob Gratton made ground into the box, where he was felled by his man. Yates was the man charged with taking the resultant penalty and made no mistake from 12 yards, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Half-time | Grimsby Town 0 v 2 Reserves
It took just over 20 minutes of second half action for the Millers to find a third, which came following more good work from Gratton. A ball over the top was latched onto by the Academy scholar before he made a dart for the byline, he rounded the goalkeeper in the process before laying it across the face of goal to Kayode, who finished with aplomb.
The Mariners struck back on 86 minutes, but it was too little too late as Tom Jamieson found Brandon McPherson to head down for Burrell, who found the back of the net from close range.
Full-time | Grimsby Town 1 v 3 Reserves
Millers | Farrar; Carlton, Southern-Cooper, Beeden, Hinds; Gratton (Etia 77), Potter (Peel-Evans 60), Palmer, Trialist; Kayode, Yates.
Unused | Spence, Hull, Hodgkinson.
Rotherham United first team/development coach Matt Hamshaw was pleased with the result and performance, which strengthened their challenge at the top end of the reserve league table:
“First half we were the dominant side and we moved it really well. Our play could perhaps have seen us score a couple more but we were happy with the opening 45 minutes.
“We didn’t hit those same levels in the second half, but the lads stuck to the task and we saw out the game, which was pleasing to see.
“Pottsy got another hour under his belt, which is more progression on the injury front for him as well.”