Town: Keigan Parker (26, 53), Own Goal (46), Danny Broadbent (64), Tom Denton (77), Robbie Williams (89)
Rotherham: Ryan Taylor (9), Omar Garcia (69), Marc Joseph (90)
A scrappy first-half gave way to a goal-filled second in Town's first reserve fixture held at the Welfare Ground this season as Mick Docherty's side maintained their 100% totesport.com league record with a victory over Rotherham United. Keigan Parker was the star of the show with a brace, but substitute Tom Denton netted his first goal in Town colours and an own goal, Danny Broadbent and skipper Robbie Williams all scored to contribute to an amazing 6-3 scoreline.
Town lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with 'keeper Simon Eastwood protected by a back four of skipper Robbie Williams, Tom Clarke, under-18 captain Spencer Harris and Andy Holdsworth. Danny Broadbent and Luke Durham occupied the wings either side of central pairing James Berrett and Michael Collins in midfield, leaving Luke Beckett to partner Keigan Parker in attack.
The visiting Millers started well and should have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute; Jamie Yates' left sided corner evaded everyone - including 'keeper Eastwood - and fell to striker Taylor at the back post, who headed wide with the goal gaping.
GOAL - Big striker Ryan Taylor was the focus of most Rotherham attacks in the opening stages and he scored the opening goal of the game after nine minutes. Town's Spencer Harris misplaced a pass along the Town backline straight into his path and he advanced to the edge of the area before sliding the ball past the advancing Eastwood.
Rotherham were well on top in the early stages and goalscorer Taylor sent a curling effort over the Town bar in the 12th minute after receiving a pass from strike partner Burchill.
Town midfielder picked up a knock early on but after some touchline consultation with physio Ian Liversedge in the 14th minute, he continued.
The strong rain was battering the faces of the Town players early on, but they eventually started to settle into the game. Young winger Durham had a shot blocked 25 yards out from goal in the 17th minute after a good positive run before Robbie Williams hit a weak long range shot at 'keeper Cann with his weaker right foot.
Left-back Williams hit a high, swirling free-kick straight at the Rotherham shot stopper from wide on the right wing in the 20th minute as Town generally took control of possession without seriously testing the opposition custodian. Weather conditions had improved by this stage and the Terriers had started to pass the ball around on the floor with some success.
Former Town midfielder Mark Hudson hit a tame shot wide of goal in the 23rd minute, but Mick Docherty's side were still on top and found the equaliser on the stroke of 26 minutes.
GOAL - It was striker Keigan Parker who finished an impressive passing move for Town, having started the spell with a good cross-field ball to left winger Broadbent. Via Williams, Collins and Berrett the ball found its way to Luke Beckett who turned and played a pass into the penalty area for Parker, who jinked to send his marker sprawling before placing the ball low into the far corner of the goal.
The game was even thereafter, with Rotherham getting a bit of a foothold back in the game as the conditions worsened once again.
BOOKING - Town 'keeper Simon Eastwood was yellow carded in the 32nd minute for catching a ball that was outside his area. Although his feet looked inside the line on the right side of his penalty box, his arms were well outside and the referee chose to give the free-kick.
Rotherham midfielder Marc Newsham shot straight at Simon Eastwood from the edge of the box in the 39th minute having picked up a headed clearance from the Town defence.
Michael Collins hit a similar shot at the opposite end a minute later after a Durham cross had been half-cleared by centre-back Marc Joseph.
Andy Holdsworth was the pick of the Town players in the first-half and his raking pass found Broadbent on the Town left in the 42nd minute, whose clever first touch took him inside the right-back. Unfortunately, the youngster fired well over the bar on the volley with Keigan Parker looking for a pass in a more central position.
Rotherham immediately broke from the goal kick, with winger Garcia cutting in from the right flank and hitting a fierce near post shot that Eastwood turned away for a corner.
Millers' danger-man Taylor hit a firm shot straight at Simon Eastwood in the last meaningful action of the first half.
HALF-TIME: TOWN RESERVES 1 ROTHERHAM UNITED 1
GOAL - Town took the lead just 50 seconds into the second-half having forced an early right wing corner. Left-back Williams played a wicked, in-swinging delivery towards the near post and the ball flew in past the visiting 'keeper off a defender, although Luke Beckett was officially accredited with the strike.
Docherty's side had the wind behind them in the second period and started very brightly. Luke Beckett set strike partner Parker away down the Town left in the 50th minute and he stepped inside defender Joseph before curling a shot inches beyond the far post.
It appeared that centre-backs Harris and Clarke had swapped sides during the interval and Rotherham target man Taylor was finding the aerial battle more taxing against Tom in the second period. In fact, the Millers were nullified as an attacking threat early on.
GOAL - Town's reserves scored a third goal in the53rd minute, with Keigan Parker notching his second of the game. The goal was fairly similar to his first - he was fed the ball in the area by strike partner Beckett before shooting low and hard into the far corner of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
BOOKING - Midfielder Michael Collins received a yellow card from referee Tierney in the 56th minute after hacking down Rotherham's Newsham.
That man Taylor rose highest from the resulting Garcia free-kick, but his header went way over Simon Eastwood's crossbar.
SUB - Big striker Tom Denton was introduced to the game by Mick Docherty in the 58th minute, replacing fellow striker Beckett.
GOAL - Town scored an impressive fourth in the 64th minute through Danny Broadbent. 'Keeper Eastwood started the quick passing move with a smart throw out to the eventual goalscorer, who passed the ball first-time to Williams; his brilliant cross-field pass found right winger Durham, who raced past the full-back before crossing low. The ball evaded substitute Denton but found Broadbent, who stepped inside onto his favoured right and slammed the ball home off the far post.
Mark Hudson fired the ball into the Stadium car park in the 67th minute after collecting a loose ball before Simon Eastwood came off his line smartly to block the ball at the feet of dangerous winger Garcia inside the area, but in truth Rotherham were rarely threatening.
GOAL - Rotherham's Omar Garcia scored an impressive free-kick in the 69th minute to reduce the arrears; Town had given the set-piece away 25 yards out and the left winger bent a well-flighted effort over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Eastwood with no chance.
It looked like Danny Broadbent had scored a second in the 73rd minute after more good work from Durham had given him space in the penalty area, but the winger's low shot was blocked by the legs of the goalkeeper.
SUB - Lewis Nightingale and Leigh Franks replaced the impressive Durham and Spencer Harris and in the 74th minute.
GOAL - Tom Denton scored his first goal in the blue and white stripes in the 77th minute, but it owed a lot to the excellent work of substitute Nightingale. The Academy man beat right-back Todd on the left flank by touching the ball past his sliding challenge before putting the ball across the face of goal, where the lofty forward slid the ball home at the far post to the delight of the crowd.
SUB - Rotherham made an immediate change, bringing on Rob Darkin for Andy Todd.
SUB - Rotherham soon made their second change, bringing off the injured Garcia and bringing on Grant Darley.
Rotherham forced two immediate corners and from the second, defender Joseph headed wide at the near post. A minute later Keigan Parker went close to a hat-trick - flashing a powerful shot across the goalmouth from an acute angle.
Denton went close to a second in the closing minutes after an excellent turn and cross from Parker, but a defender got back to the near post and blocked his low ball in.
GOAL - As it was, Robbie Williams scored a spectacular sixth goal in the 89th minute. Denton held up the ball during a Town attack before laying it back to Holdsworth, who in turn squared it to the left-back; Williams took a touch before hitting a tremendous low drive from fully 25 yards that beat the goalkeeper to his left-hand side.
GOAL - Rotherham added a third consolation goal in stoppage time through defender Marc Joseph; the defender slotted home a left wing corner despite the desperate efforts of Leigh Franks on the line.
FULL-TIME: TOWN RESERVES 6 ROTHERHAM UNITED 3
Town Reserves:
Simon Eastwood, Andy Holdsworth, Robbie Williams (c), Michael Collins, Tom Clarke, Spencer Harris (Leigh Franks 74), Keigan Parker, James Berrett, Luke Beckett (Tom Denton 58), Danny Broadbent, Luke Durham (Lewis Nightingale 74)
Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Dan Codman
Bookings: Simon Eastwood (32), Michael Collins (56)
Rotherham United:
Steve Cann, Andy Todd (Rob Darkin 78), Jamie Green, Mark Hudson, Marc Joseph, Dave Heggerty (c), Jamie Yates, Marc Newsham, Ryan Taylor, Mark Burchill, Omar Garcia (Grant Darley 81)
Unused Subs: Mark Emsley, Tom Cahill, Reece Richardson
