Rotherham United Academy ended their 2020/21 Youth Alliance campaign in style as they recorded an emphatic victory over Scunthorpe United U18s at The Graham Solley Sports Development Centre.
A brace each from Jerome Greaves and defender Billy Carroll helped the Millers to victory, with further strikes from Ciaran McGuckin and Haroon Salah wrapping up the points.
The Millers made a dream start to the game, as they found themselves two goals up inside the opening 10 minutes.
The young guns were presented with the opportunity to take the lead in the fourth minute, when Jake Champion was tripped in the box, leading the referee to point for a penalty.
Jerome Greaves stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to give the Millers an early lead, which they extended just four minutes later.
Sam Greenhouse speared in a long-throw from the far side, which was met by Billy Carroll who rose highest to head firmly into the bottom corner.
The Iron hit back through the lively Cam Wilson, who converted from the spot when the visitors won a penalty of their own in 24th minute.
The visitors were level just nine minutes later, when Wilson capitalised on a loose ball outside the area and bent the ball into the far corner to retore parity.
The Iron pressed for a third and Wilson was presented with the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, but saw his well-struck free-kick saved by Burnett.
On the stroke of half time, it was the Millers who found the fifth goal of the game as Clark fed Greaves 25 yards from goal and the striker guided a delicate dink over the head of Balme to send the Millers into the break ahead.
HALF TIME | Academy 3 v 2 Scunthorpe
The Millers started the second half as strongly as they did the first, adding a further two goals in the opening eight minutes of the final period.
Haroon Salah got himself on the scoresheet in the 50th minute, cutting inside and firing past Balme to retore the two-goal advantage.
Three minutes later the Millers had a fifth, when Warne played a delicate through ball into the path of substitute McGuckin, who applied a clinical finish from 18 yards.
The forward almost had a second just past the hour mark, forcing a strong save from Balme after some good wing-play from Champions to create the opportunity.
The young guns added a deserved sixth with just under 20 minutes left to play, when Carroll again showed great strength in the air to head home from Warne’s corner.
The home side continued to press as Charlie Smith returned a cleared header with interest, unleashing a pile-driver from 20 yards, forcing a finger-tip save from Balme, before the ball was scrambled off the line.
Despite Rotherham’s second half dominance, Scunthorpe pulled a goal back with nine minutes to play.
In an open finish to the game McGuckin fired over for the Millers after some selfless play from Salah, before Lewis blazed over for the visitors moments later, but it was the Millers who came out on top in a nine goal thriller.
FULL TIME | Academy 6 v 3 Scunthorpe
ACADEMY | Burnett; Makwedza, Carroll (Day 81), Smith, Greenhouse; Scott (McGuckin 45’), Warne, Champion (Kenny 75’), Clark (Durose 45’); Salah, Greaves.
UNUSED | Douglas.