Rotherham 5 v 0 Derby County
Rotherham United Ladies won their opening league fixture 5 v 0 against Derby County. Rotherham started the game very nervously and their football was scrappy for long periods of the first half, although
the opposition failed to trouble the new look Millers defence.
After half time changes, the tempo and application was raised, and Rotherham started to play the expansive
football their new management team wanted. The changes reaped an early reward when Longstone
won a good header in the centre of midfield to put in Davies, only to be pushed wide of goal by the in form Derby centre half.
Rotherham had three shots cleared from a packed goalmouth before Thickett shot over the bar from 40 yards. This inspired the
ladies to press the Derby defence and won a corner on 56mins. The resulting corner from Lynskey saw last season's leading
goal scorer Davies power home a header for her first goal of this league campaign. The goal inspired the Millers into some
flowing football and an identical second goal came after 66mins with a second for Davies to make the game more comfortable.
Good midfield play with quick passing moves and an excellent through ball saw Davies in for her hat trick on 70 mins.
Booth and Longstone rounded off a satisfying second half for the Millers which could
have been more with close misses and good saves from Wood, Lynskey and Thickitt.
