Tuesday 17 August 2010
totesport.com League Central Division
Bradford City 0
Rotherham United 5 (Denton 29, Ashworth 42, Marshall 62, Warne 64, Banks 71)
Kick Off: 7.00pm
at Plumpton Park, Eccleshill United

City's reserves started their new era at Eccleshill United with a heavy defeat at the hands of Rotherham United thanks to some superb finishing from the visitors.

The Millers finished comfortable victors thanks to a goal each from five different scorers in the reserves first match since moving their home fixtures to Eccleshill's Plumpton Park ground.

The Bantams found themselves trailing by two at half time in their season opener before Rotherham increased their lead further in the second period thanks to some well taken goals. 

Michael Flynn lasted 35 minutes on his return from injury, while the trialist duo of Sebastien Carole and Chib Chilaka featured from the start.

There was also a place in Junior Lewis first line up of the season for Lewis himself as the reserve team manager started in central defence.

After a quiet opening, City engineered the first chance of the match when Adam Robinson's cross was flicked into Darren Stephenson's path by Michael Flynn.

Stephenson stuck a foot out to connect with the ball, but his close range effort was just flicked over the bar via a deflection.

Rotherham enjoyed an equally promising chance later on in the half, but Joe Gaughan blasted over from just outside the six yard box as the ball bounced into his path.

The visitors took the lead just before the half hour mark through midfielder Alec Denton.

A nicely timed tackle from Lewis managed to halt the on-rushing Marcus Marshall and appeared to clear the danger in the process.

The ball broke to Denton,however, who managed to beat Chris Elliott and find the bottom corner from just inside the area.

With City not keen to risk the Welshman, Flynn was then replaced by apprentice Ben Green in the 35th minute.

As the half drew to a close, Louis Horne came close to an equaliser when the defender snuck in at the far post to connect with Ryan Harrison's free-kick,

Unfortunately, his header lacked direction and flew across goal and wide of the post.

The Millers doubled their advantage just before the break when Jamie Green's inviting cross appeared to catch out the City defence.

Green's teasing centre flew across the six yard box unchallenged until Denton fired goalwards at the far post.

Chris Elliott did well to keep the effort out from point blank range, but Rotherham skipper Liam Ashworth was on hand to tap home unchallenged from the rebound.

At the start of the second period, Grant Darley was inches away from finding the corner with a curling effort that whistled just past the far post,

Marshall diving header moments later also narrowly missed the target by a similar distance as the visitors created some early chances in the half.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker did eventually get his name on the scoresheet with an extremely well taken goal.

Cutting in from a wide position, Marshall turned away from a couple of City defenders before finding the top corner from around eight yards out.

Rotherham made it four for the evening moments later when Paul Warne was on hand to beat Elliott with a neat finish from just outside the six yard box.

Stephenson tried to pull a goal back for the Bantams shortly afterwards, but his fiercely stuck effort from distance was well claimed by Jamie Annerson.

Chilaka showed a brief glimpse of his ability when the muscular striker worked his way past the attentions of two Rotherham defenders, only for his stinging drive to be palmed away by Annerson.

The Millers found a fifth in the 71st minute thanks to another superb finish from one of their players.

Oliver Banks surged forward from his midfield position before curling a delightful effort into the top corner from just outside the Bantams penalty area.

City still tried to claim something from the match, but Chilaka saw another effort blocked and Carole then fired narrowly over from a free kick in a promising position.

Green nearly added a sixth for Rotherham after his marauding run from full back was spotted by Marshall, but the left back's angled drive was pushed away by Elliott.

Sub Dominic Rowe was then denied from a similar angle by Annerson moments later as City reserves fell to an opening day defeat.

BRADFORD CITY	ROTHERHAM UNITED
1. Chris Elliott	1. Jamie Annerson
2. Adam Robinson	2. Jordan Hatton
3. Louis Horne	3. Jamie Green
4. Michael Flynn	4. Ben Snee
5. Junior Lewis	5. Luke Ashworth
6. Ben Hudson	6. Oliver Banks
7. Sebastien Carole	7. Grant Darley
8. Alex Flett	8. Alec Denton
9. Darren Stephenson	9. Marcus Marshall
10. Chib Chilaka	10. Paul Warne
11. Ryan Harrison	11. Joe Gaughan
Substitutes:	Substitutes:
12. Elliott Holmes	14. Liam Royles for 6 (87)
13. Callum Tongue	15. Conor Hiley for 11 (71)
14. Joe Mitchell	17. Daniel Hancock
15. Ben Green for 4 (35)
16. Dominic Rowe for 11 (68)

GOALSCORERS:
BRADFORD CITY	ROTHERHAM UNITED
	Denton (29)
	Ashworth (42)
	Marshall (62)
	Warne (64)
	Banks (71)

OFFICIALS:
Referee:	D Handley
Assistant Referee:	M Ackerman
Assistant Referee:	I Bonney
Fourth Official:	M Brownsett