MATCH REPORT: Basford United 0-9 Rotherham United Women

Rotherham United Women served up a Christmas feast for fans in the final game before the winter break, putting nine past Basford United in a dominant display.

The league table would suggest there was little to choose between the sides on paper as they took to Basford’s 3G pitch.

But when the game finally got underway – having been delayed by an under-23s match beforehand going to penalties – it was over as a contest after barely 12 minutes as the Millers raced into a four-goal lead.

Lexie Butterworth helped herself to a first-half hat trick, with two assured finishes and a lofted shot which surprisingly defeated home keeper Paige Johnson.

Beth Howarth, meanwhile, notched two for herself before the break with a powerful drive and a clinical volley from a half-cleared corner. It was the least Howarth deserved for an all-action midfield display.

Milly Colford relished the No 10 role, bagging an impressive four assists and smashing against the upright, while Amanda Millar made yet another significant impact as a sub, wriggling through to fire home the sixth.

With just an hour gone, there was still time for Alesha Gale to set aside her frustration at hitting the bar with a fearsome first half half drive and bag a 10-minute hat trick.

Colford squared for Gale’s simple first, before the forward broke the offside trap twice in quick succession, rounding the keeper to finish and then lobbing home a delicious left-footed volley.

The goalscorers inevitably take the glory but they were given the platform by a near faultless defensive display and the stranglehold the Millers exercised in midfield, restricting Basford to feeding off scraps in their own back yard.

This was a performance of composure and ruthlessness, drawing on a confidence threaded through the whole squad by recent high-scoring displays.

There will be sterner tests to come – starting with Chesterfield away on January 5.

But 30 goals in six games will have the front runners sitting up and taking notice, and watching this team in 2025 promises to be quite the entertaining experience.