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Archived News from March 2003

YOUTH TEAM BEATEN
31st March 2003 20:24


Youth Team Merit League
Rotherham 2 Stags Youth 1

Stags Youth put in a fine performance at Rotherham on Saturday 29th March in what always seems to be a competitive game when these two sides clash.
However football was the winner with both sides looking to develop from good passing football.
The Stags initially had strikes on goal with Hankey and Danny firing in, but the Millers took the lead halfway through the first half following a defensive mix-up, and nearly took a further lead when Coates pushed a fine shot onto the post.

After the break Stags did go 2 - 0 down and then were chasing the game, there was fine prompting from an excellent on the day Stags midfield of Carter, Hurst, and Lloyd and the Stags central defence of Baptiste and Woods.

Stags got one back through Danny with 15 minutes left, and nearly snatched an equaliser following a break down the left and a goal mouth scramble and 3 or 4 Stags players swung a boot to try and score.

Overall certainly a good Stags performance and settling into a good disciplined passing side again.

Team :- Coates, Davies, Woods, Baptiste, Curle, Carter, Kane, Hurst, Lloyd, Hankey, Danny

John Street
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http://www.themillers.co.uk
Rotherham United 2 Mansfield Town 1
Rotherham United juniors made it three wins out of five in the Youth Alliance Merit Division One (North) at Hooton Lodge but the margin of the victory should really have been bigger.
They were the better team for most of the game but failed to make the most of their chances particularly in the first half when the Millers were well on top.
The home team set the tone in the first minute when Andy Jones found Will Hoskins and from his cross, Kris Bowler hit a shot from 25 yards, which went just over the bar.
After a bright start it came as no surprise when Rotherham opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Andrew Middlebrook and Jones set up Hoskins who delivered a good cross which was partially cleared only for Jones to set up an opening which Tom Fletcher tucked away with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
A Mansfield corner was well headed out by Luke Pritchard and when the Millers pushed forward again, a good move involving Craig Mudd, Hoskins and Middlebrook ended with Fletcher putting his cross behind.
Jones had a shot blocked while at the other end a Mansfield break in the 20th minute was halted when keeper Adam Penney made a save before the Millers ere back on the attack again with Fletcher having a shot saved and the rebound hit Middlebrook to go out for a goal kick.
A 31st minute free kick just outside the penalty area saw Bowler's shot blocked and Jones couldn't make the rebound count but the home team kept up the pressure and following a great run by Hoskins, Middlebrook was just beaten to the ball.
On the stroke of half time Nick Kay swapped passes with Jones before delivering a great cross which was cleared back to him and his 25 yard shot rattled the post.
It was a quiet opening to the second half with Mansfield trying to come more into the game but the Millers responded with Fletcher hitting a shot over the bar before they went two up in the 58th minute. Fletcher did well to win the ball and he slipped a perfect pass to substitute Mark Newsham who finished confidently from eight yards.
A Mudd free kick was headed out for corner before Jones fired just wide following a fine Fletcher pass but the home team were caught out in the 79th minute when the visitors reduced the arrears. The goal came from a long clearance which wasn't dealt with and although Penney got a hand to the ball, the resulting shot finished in the net.
Rotherham replied with Hoskins winning a corner and then he had a 20 yarder saved but the Millers almost threw the game away in injury time when a goal line clearance prevented an equaliser.
Rotherham United Team: Penney, Mudd, Page, Kay, Pritchard, Ludlam, Hoskins, Bowler (Bradford 66), Jones (Duncum 76), Middlebrook (Newsham 55), Fletcher.

 

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