Rotherham United 0-0 Mansfield Town

It was honours even after a gritty battle between two of the division’s most defensively sound sides at Roundwood.

There was no way through for either attack as Mansfield kept out a second half onslaught from the home side – after a combination of sharp reflexes from Katrina Parsons and the crossbar had preserved the Millers’ clean sheet before the break.

This was a game of few chances overall, with both sides restricted to long-range efforts for the most part.

Amid the attritional midfield battle set against the gathering winter gloom, a handful of slick passages of one-touch approach play lifted the mood. One neat exchange between strikers Jessie Broadhurst and Milly Colford saw the latter freed to fire at Amy Price – the closest the Millers came to breaking the deadlock.

For Mansfield’s part, the Stags could hardly believe it when Parsons reacted sharply to stop a goal-bound first-half volley, and home hearts were in mouths when a deflected shot from left back.. struck the underside of the bar.

Mansfield spurned a brace of late chances, while Sidni Simmons, moved into central midfield for the Millers, was denied by Price as she looked to cap a Player of the Match display with a goal.

The draw leaves both sides in mid-table, with the Millers travelling down the M1 to take on Dunton & Broughton this Sunday.

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing Sunday for the Reserves, who went down to two second half goals at Bentley.

Millers v Mansfield: Katrina Parsons, Dina Sarayreh, Lori-Anne Tart, Abbie Staples, Amy Nowell, Sidni Simmons, Lauren Brogan, Halima Essa, Demi Weekes, Jessie Broadhurst, Milly Colford. Subs: Mia McDonald, Delia Hurdiss, Caitlin O’Callaghan, Rachel Hale.

Reserves v Bentley: Hannah Iguchi, Emily Bell, Emily Ind, Faith Hall, Freya Sutherland, Madison Jones, Emily Ward, Sofiat Rufus, Nnola Oyeka, Emily Evans, Rayanne Haywood.