The Millers were back in action on English soil having endured the heat and strain of a tough pre-season camp on the Croatian coast. League Two outfit Harrogate Town were the opponents and the Millers worked hard for a 3-0 victory on a gorgeous summer evening.
A familiar face lined up for the home side in Joe Mattock, with the full-back having departed New York Stadium this summer after a stellar seven years with the Millers.
It was a bright start from the off as Jamie Lindsay saw a sniff of goal inside 30 seconds having been played in behind, but a great recovering challenge denied the midfielder.
Another half chance was created on four minutes after some neat off-the-shoulder play from Washington. The striker laid off for Rathbone to curl onto the head of Kelly, but he couldn’t adjust enough to get his 12-yard header on target.
Harrogate goalkeeper Oxley was called into action for the first time on eight minutes as he turned Washington’s effort round the post for a corner. From the resulting delivery, Barlaser’s wicked cross was powered home by the head of Hakeem Odoffin with nine on the watch.
The hosts responded positively and forced Johansson into his first save of the evening; the Swede pushing clear Pattison’s strike from inside the area.
Warne’s men showed their ruthless side as they doubled their lead on 12 minutes through Barlaser. The former Newcastle man steamed forward with real purpose to meet Washington’s pull-back and finished with aplomb into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
The home side dragged a couple efforts wide of goal with Pattison posing a threat but the game petered out towards the break, although Rathbone did cushion a shot wide as he met Kioso’s centre.
There was one last chance for a sight of goal for Town as George Thomson took aim from a 20-yard free-kick, but Johansson was equal to his top-corner-bound attempt.
Half-time | Harrogate Town 0 v 2 Rotherham
The Millers made four changes at the break as Wood, Wiles, Kayode and Humphreys replaced Harding, Kelly, Rathbone and Barlaser.
Town had two good chances in the opening exchanges but were denied by some good goalkeeping and an offside flag. Both efforts were one-on-one opportunities, as Johansson first thwarted Armstrong at the near post before Muldoon mistimed his run and saw his neat finish ruled out by the flag.
Just before the hour the Millers made some more changes with tomorrow night’s trip to Salford in mind, and two substitutes in Ogbene and Kayode combined well with the latter placing a low shot just wide on 66 minutes.
Another Armstrong effort on 70 minutes hit the net but the forward was, like his team-mate earlier, denied by the flag. It was a powerful finish by the striker and felt harshly done by the assistant’s flag.
The Millers made it three on 72 minutes as youngster Ciaran McGuckin got on the scoresheet. Ogbene made headway down the right and crossed for Kayode. The striker showed great awareness to lay off for McGuckin, whose powerful strike looped off the chest of Jameson and bounced over the line.
Some excellent defending at the other prevented a Harrogate reply with both Wood and Humphreys putting their bodies on the line with Armstrong once again the man taking aim for the hosts.
Full-time | Harrogate Town 0 v 3 Rotherham
Harrogate Town first half XI:
Oxley, Welch-Hayes, Mattock, Thomson, Headley, Pattison, Muldoon, Dooley, Ferguson, Horbury, Trialist.
Second half: Jameson, Burrell, Richards, Austerfield, Muldoon (Trialist 59), Daly, Armstrong, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.
Rotherham United:
Johansson, Harding (Wood 46), Bramall (Ogbene 59), Barlaser (Humphreys 46), Kelly (Kayode 46), Washington (Douglas 68), Lindsay (Hull 59), Rathbone (Wiles 46), Odoffin (Durose 59), Kioso (McGuckin 59), Trialist (Warne 59).
Subs not used: Vickers.
Referee: Tom Nield
Assistant referees: Matt Sowerby & Jamie Rhodes
Fourth Official: Danny Guest
Attendance: 869 (301 away)