MATCH REPORT | Millers too strong for Long Eaton in 8-0 victory

Long Eaton United 0-8 Rotherham United Women

Four goals in each half saw Rotherham Women to their biggest away win of the season so far.

Skipper Lori-Anne Tart weighed in with two early goals from corners and was joined on the scoresheet before half-time by Delia Hurdiss and Milly Colford.

A long-range effort from Sidni Simmons made it five after the break and clinically taken goals by Demi Weekes and Colford again, alongside a bullet header from Tart’s partner at the back, Amy Nowell, completed the rout.

Long Eaton repeatedly attempted to find a foothold in the match but were put off their stride by a combination of tigerish shifts on midfield by Simmons, Lauren Winter and Lauren Brogan and a well-marshalled backline.

It was Long Eaton’s Millie Smith who was always the busier keeper, the Millers continuing to press even after wrapping up the points with barely half an hour gone and coming close to scoring more.

Against the backdrop of persistent drizzle and the “Big Jim” Stand, Tart wasted no time in getting Rotherham underway.

A Hurdiss corner was not properly cleared and the centre half was on hand to side-foot into the top corner.

It was barely ten minutes more before there were more celebrations as Tart rose highest to head home another Hurdiss set piece.

Provider turned scorer on the half-hour, trying her luck with a speculative drive from the left which soared past Smith to give the Millers breathing room.

Rotherham continued to find joy down the flanks but it was a simple ball through the middle from Brogan which sent Colford away to slot calmly beyond Smith.

Colford could have twice more before the break but was athletically denied by the home keeper, who also dived to tip round a fierce effort from Hurdiss.

After the interval, it took less than five minutes for the Millers to extend their lead thanks to a lofted shot by Simmons which evaded the reaching Smith.

Colford freed Weekes to slide home a right-footer for sixth and the away side were in seventh heaven as Nowell headed home yet another dangerous Hurdiss corner on the hour.

Halima Essa and Jess Jones were both well denied by the always-busy Smith and Brogan came close twice with her left foot.

But it was Colford who provided put the icing on the cake, swerving a powerful shot into the top-left corner in the dying minutes.

A hard-working but accomplished display against the division’s basement side – by the same scoreline as the return fixture last September – sent the Millers climbing to third.

They have a weekend off league duty, instead heading to play Nottingham Trent University in the League Plate at 2pm on Sunday.

Rotherham’s Reserves made it two wins in a row in tricky conditions at SJR Worksop, running out 2-1 victors in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup.

Left back Shayna Cameron set the tone early with a superbly taken right-footed volley and Maddy Wilson sealed the League Cup win from a first-half free kick.

The Reserves are back in action against Brinsworth Whitehill Reserves on Sunday.