Rotherham United’s Academy were held to a goalless draw in a hotly-contested encounter with Burton Albion in the Youth Alliance League when they met at Graham Solley Sports Complex.
The young Millers were looking to follow up an impressive 5-2 triumph over county neighbours Huddersfield Town when they welcomed the Brewers to South Yorkshire for a Tuesday afternoon fixture.
In a game which was always going to be decided by the finest of margins, the Millers threatened through Northern Ireland youth international Ciaran McGuckin, when he sprung the offside trap leaving himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but was unable to keep his left-footed striker under the crossbar.
Curtis Durose, who has been an influential figure for the Academy throughout 2021/22 was next to test the Burton rearguard, but couldn’t guide his shot through a crowded penalty area after a goalmouth scramble.
The midfielder forged another decent opportunity when a handy solo-run saw him cut inside to work room for the shot, but his effort to test the goalkeeper failed to hit the target.
The Brewers gave as good as they got in a tight encounter and drew a good save from goalkeeper Nat Ford which required the Millers stopper to tip a free kick around the post to ensure the scores stayed level at 0-0.
It would prove to be a frustrating afternoon for both in the end, with neither side able to find a way through, meaning that the teams shared the spoils in the Youth Alliance League encounter.
Academy | Ford; Booth, Day, Carroll, Exton; Greenhouse (Bond 71), Warne, Durose, Champion (Nesbit 51); Douglas (Holvey 85); McGuckin.
Unused | Jenkinson, Clark.