MATCH REPORT: Dronfield Town 2-8 Rotherham United Women

Eight goals, two hat tricks and a place in the next round…

Rotherham United Women’s League Cup campaign got off to an emphatic start with an 8-2 victory at Dronfield Town.

And to the benefit of the crowd at the HE Barnes Stadium – in stark contrast to the sides’ FA Cup clash last season – the autumn downpours stayed away.

The Millers dominated from the outset and created a stream of chances. Delia Hurdiss could hardly believe it when she cleared the bar from close range and both Alesha Gale and Jess Jones – the latter an early sub for the injured Caitlin O’Callaghan – hit the right-hand upright in the opening half-hour.

The pair’s pace caused constant headaches for the Dronfield backline, and Jones got her reward when the home defence failed to deal with a cross by the energetic Erren Davies and the striker lashed home the loose ball.

It wasn’t long before Gale doubled the lead, racing through to skip past Town keeper Jessica Lee and smashing into the empty net.

The Millers were good value for a half-time two goal lead but set about going further ahead right after the break: Gale lofted a ball over the home defence and Jones lobbed home with just 20 seconds played.

And Jones completed her hat trick minutes later, bursting in down the left, evading Lee and keeping her cool to tap home.

Hurdiss added a fifth within 8 minutes of the restart, side-footing in from 12 yards, and Gale notched her own second with a well-taken volley.

Dronfield rallied and pulled one back from a free kick but Gale then finished off her own hat trick by rounding Lee to score.

The home side then found a second from sub Laurie Marris to make it 7-2.

Hurdiss completed the scoring in style, taking down Jones’ cross and clipping past Lee to make it a gr-eight afternoon for the Millers.

The result makes it two wins on the bounce, with 13 goals scored, albeit against lower-league opposition.

Thornaby FC – themselves in rich goalscoring form – will provide a stern test when they visit Roundwood in the FA Cup third qualifying round next Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

Meanwhile, the Young Millers suffered a setback when they lost out 3-1 to Rossington Main.

Ruby Hellewell equalised Main’s first-half goal but the hosts scored twice more late on to run out winners.

The Under-21s visit Middlewood Rovers next Sunday (kick-off 2pm).