RUFC - Millers v Bantams Reserve Report

Rotherham United Reserves 2 Bradford City Reserves 3

Rotherham United Reserves fell to only their fourth defeat of the season to a strong Bradford City Reserve side yesterday evening at Don Valley.

With the Blades second-string beating Nottingham Forest earlier in the day, it means that the Millers lead at the top is cut to just one point, with the Blades having a game in hand.

The Millers had Stephen Brogan back from a loan spell at Conference North side, Stalybridge Celtic and it was his corner on thirteen minutes that gave Liam Henderson his first shot at goal as the City defence failed to deal with it. Unfortunately for the Millers Dave Syers managed to get back and clear off the line. A minute later, at the other end, Jamie Annerson did well to get his feet to a fierce shot from Syers and put it out for a corner. The Bantams had a shout for a penalty as Syers went down under a challenge from Danny Harrison in the box but the referee waved the appeals away. On eighteen minutes Henderson put in a good pass for Alec Denton but the youngster fired straight at Lloyd Saxton in the Bantams goal. Two minutes later Henderson again was provider for Denton but this time he fired well over the bar and the striker, on loan Watford, was involved minutes later when he decided to shoot himself and, it was only at the second attempt that Saxton was able to hold the ball. Saxton did well on thirty-five minutes to save from Mark Bradley but the Millers got the lead they deserved two minutes later when, not being able to cope with Henderson, the visitors decided to foul him instead. Brogan curled the resulting free-kick and Luke Ashworth rose highest to send the ball into the net. And the Millers could have doubled their lead as half-time approached when a neat flick from Paul Warne fell to Denton who put the shot past Saxton only to see it cannon back off the post and Denton`s rebound shot was kept out by Saxton.

The Millers started the second half just as brightly as they finished the first and Randall first had a header go just over and then saw a shot well held by Saxton. The Bantams then got back into the game and Annerson did well to hold onto a shot from Syers. Then, on the hour mark, youth team striker, Darren Stephenson got his head to a looping shot from Syers and put it in the back of the net. Five minutes later, Stephenson was fouled in the area by Harrison and from the resulting penalty Syres sent Annerson the wrong way to give the visitors the lead. Annerson did well a minute later to save from Leon Osborne and Tom Adeyemi had a shot blocked by a Millers defender. On seventy-one minutes the Millers were level, when a flick on by Warne was well controlled by Henderson and the striker twisted into space, turned and shot into the bottom corner. With it looking like it might be a draw, Bradford trialist, Jonathan Brown, smashed a magnificent ball into the back of the net from twenty-five yards out giving Annerson no chance. And City could have got a fourth when Stephenson shot from eight yards out but Jordon Hall did well to block.

Teams
Millers
Annerson
Royles
Brogan
Harrison
Ashworth
Hall
Denton
Randall
Warne
Henderson
Bradley
Subs not used - Banks, Rose, Brown, Gaughan, Leyden

Bantams
Saxton
Dean (Robinson)
Threlfall
Adeyemi
Bullock
Horne
Brown
Syres
Stephenson
Osborne
Rowe
Subs not used - Cheetham, Flett, Forsyth, Mitchell



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