MATCH REPORT I Quickfire one-two seals FA Cup win for Millers at Dronfield

Dronfield Ladies 0-2 Rotherham United Women

Rotherham United Women Reserves 1-3 Mosborough Ladies

A TRIPLE birthday weekend for RUWFC ended with plenty of reason for celebration as the club’s quest for FA Cup glory got off to the perfect start.

The First team travelled to Dronfield Town for their first FA Cup tie of the season on Sunday, while the Reserves hosted Mosborough Ladies at Herringthorpe.

Striker Caitlin O’Callaghan and midfielder Maddy Wilson both made the trip to Derbyshire on their birthdays, while Emily Walker – whose own birthday fell on Saturday, helmed the Reserves defence in their league match.

While Walker and her teammates were frustrated to lose 3-1, Walker managed to mark her birthday weekend with a goal.

And at Dronfield, a strike partnership which has flickered so far this season burst into life as forwards Milly Colford and Jessie Broadhurst each scored within a minute to fire Pete Jarvis’ side into the next round of the cup.

Dronfield started well and it took a brave block from Lauren Brogan to keep out one goal-bound shot, but the Millers soon imposed themselves on proceedings, with Brogan and Lauren Winter dominant in central midfield and wingers Halima Essa and Abbie Staples finding joy down the flanks.

Colford (below) began the scoring, neatly side-stepping one defender following a goalmouth melee and tucking in her first of the season.

Broadhurst followed suit almost instantly, bursting through down the left and coolly slotting past stranded Dronfield keeper Rebecca Hill.

Brogan could have added to the advantage before the break but couldn’t quite apply the required connection to two centres from the left wing.

After the break, Broadhurst could have added to her tally but put a header wide following a curling cross from Colford and the former was crowded out by the home defence after another sumptuous ball from her strike partner.

Dronfield threatened to make it a nervy finish, with the largely-untroubled Georgia Ward in the Millers goal forced to make a flying stop down to her right on 63 minutes as Annabel Davies shot on the turn.

And Town’s Ruby Burns may still be wondering how she cleared the crossbar on the stretch after being found in acres of space.

But an otherwise largely assured defensive display and a dominant midfield performance set the foundation for a comfortable Millers win and a first clean sheet in four games.

At Herringthorpe, the Reserves fought back from a goal down to equalise on the half-hour but another quick-fire strike for Mosborough saw them go in 2-1 behind and a second half own goal left Dave Vine’s side with too much to do.

The Firsts return to league action next Sunday against Long Eaton United, while the Reserves can look forward to a local derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Herringthorpe.

Kick-off for both games is at 2pm.

Millers v Dronfield: Georgia Ward, Dina Sarayreh, Lori-Anne Tart (c), Amy Nowell, Sidni Simmons, Halima Essa, Abbie Staples, Lauren Brogan, Lauren Winter, Jessie Broadhurst, Milly Colford. Subs: Jess Jones, Molly Corke, Maddy Wilson. Subs not used: Rachel Hale, Caitlin O’Callaghan, Lucie Tinker, Mia McDonald. Millers Reserves v Mosborough: Hannah Iguchi, Emily Ind, Faith Hall, Emily Walker, Ayesha Ishtiaq, Freya Sutherland, Georgia Harris, Madison Jones, Vic Goodill, Emily Evans, Nnola Oyeka. Subs: Katrina Parsons, Emily Bell, Shayna Cameron, Rayanne Haywood, Emily Ward.