MATCH REPORT: Rotherham United 5-1 Basford United

Four second half goals washed away the memory of a gritty first 45 at rain-lashed Roundwood as the Millers put another welcome three points on the board.

Missed chances and a mishit backpass which led to a Basford United equaliser meant the interval scoreline of 1-1 hardly did justice to Rotherham’s efforts before the break.

A stop-start opening in which Milly Colford came closest to scoring and Basford’s Katie Platts rattled the bar was soon forgotten when Amanda Millar fed Lexie Butterworth and the striker’s shot was parried to the waiting Beth Howarth to side-foot home.

Alesha Gale (above) could twice have doubled th lead when she found herself in promising positions but instead it was Platts who profited when she seized on Dina Sarayreh’s backpass and curled home.

Despite the setback, the Millers came out firing in the second half, repeatedly cutting open the visitors’ defence.

Butterworth found particular joy down the left and played Gale through to slot home – only for a very late offside flag to dampen the celebrations.

Gale tested away keeper Paige Johnson twice and Butterworth also called her into action before the Millers finally made the breakthrough.

It was Butterworth the provider once again, squaring for Gale to tap home.

The two combined again five minutes later to make it three, before Butterworth bagged a deserved goal when Johnson couldn’t keep out her curler from the right.

Colford added the icing on the cake deep into stoppage time, volleying home to grab the fifth.

This was a hard-fought victory grounded in a relentless work-rate across the pitch by all 14 players called upon.

It lifts the Millers to fourth in the league table ahead of next weekend’s trip to Nottingham Trent University (kick-off 2pm).

Photos by Alex Roebuck.