Doncaster Rovers 0 Rotherham United 6 (six)
Miller (13), Ladapo (15), og (16), Grigg (49), Hull (67), Mattock (85)
Rotherham United’s first foray into the Papa John Trophy this evening saw them get a goal feast at the Keepmoat Stadium beating Doncaster Rovers six-nil – a second win over their neighbours this season.
Kieran Sadlier showed his intent from the first minute trying a shot from some twenty-five yards out but it an easy catch for Louis Jones in the Doncaster goal. The Millers won a free-kick which Dan Barlaser took finding Sadlier who again tried his luck from distance this time seeing his shot go wide. At the other end Rovers got Ben Close into a good position which saw a great defensive tackle from Hakeem Odoffin stop him in his tracks before Josh Vickers making his debut in the Millers’ goal saved from a long range Close shot. Unlucky for some but not Mickel Miller who saw his shot-cum-cross open the scoring for the visitors with thirteen minutes on the clock. And on the quarter of an hour mark it was two when a Barlaser cross found Freddie Ladapo who wound his way round Jones to double the Millers’ lead. A minute later and it’s three after with Odoffin cracking the ball against the crossbar and it went in, probably off Jones for an own goal. The hosts probably should have made it three-one after Matt Smith got the better of the Rotherham defence but skied the ball over the crossbar and minutes later Tommy Rowe got the ball on the edge of the area and hit it hard but Vickers got down well to stop it. Jordy Hiwula found himself one-on-one with Vickers who brought off a great save with the flag being raised (late) for an offside. The first yellow of the game went to Rotherham skipper for the night Joe Mattock after he tugged Rodrigo Vilca back. Two Rotherham debutants were involved in the next move with Jake Hull sending a ball through to Mattock who found the head of Will Grigg with the striker glancing the ball wide before Freddie Ladapo did the same from another debutant Tolaji Bola’s cross. With a minute left of the half Rovers had a great opportunity to pull one back after Rowe did well to pick out the run of Hiwula only for the Rovers’ winger to shoot wide.
A minute into the second half Rotherham made their first change Ollie Rathbone coming on for Kieran Sadlier. On forty-nine minutes Will Grigg made his mark after Freddie Ladapo’s shot hit the upright he was there to tap it in for his first Millers goal. It could have been five with Grigg’s shot hitting the crossbar and going over before a Joe Mattock free-kick brought off a fingertip save from Louis Jones. Just after the hour mark the hosts made a triple change fetching on Kyle Knoyle, AJ Greavves and Dan Gardner for Jordy Hiwula, Rodrigo Bilca and Joe Dodoo. A good cross from Rathbone found Tolaji Bola who in turn crosses to Ladapo whose header brought off another good save from Jones. That was Ladapo’s last action of the game with him and Grigg being replaced by Jacob Gratton, another making his debut, and Michael Smith. Two minutes later it was another debut goal with Jake Hull getting a touch from a Dan Barlaser corner. Rathbone won another corner for the visitors with the resulting kick headed over by Smith. Both Ben Close for Rovers and Rotherham’s Tolaji Bola have left the pitch with injuries leaving both sides with ten men. With five minutes to go a Mickel Miller corner was headed home by Mattock before a long ball from Josh Vickers found Smith who passes to Rathbone only for him to see his shot go over the crossbar.
‘Can we play you every week . . .’ (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Whatever the competition six goals is great scoring practice for the Millers and just as pleasing we kept a clean sheet plus we had players making good debuts. I don’t think you can really ask for more than that.
Attendance – 1,765
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