It was back to winning ways for Rotherham United Women as they put five past Anstey Nomads.

Two goals each from debutant Lexie Butterworth and sub Amanda Millar and one from Jess Jones added up to a 5-2 win in Leicestershire.

It could have been more, as the Millers carved out a string of further chances to add to the impressive total.

It took just six minutes for Jones to break the deadlock, winning possession high up the pitch and smashing beyond home keeper Holly Mayfield.

Lexie Butterworth, making an energetic debut on the right of the front three, had already almost set up a second when she bagged her first Rotherham goal.

Sophie Gordon surged down the right and centred. When Jones’ shot was blocked, Butterworth seized on the loose ball and rattled home.

The Millers, dominating midfield through Erren Davies, Amy Dawson and later Amy Nowell, continued to give the home defence headaches.

And it was Butterworth who made it three, volleying home from six yards ten minutes after the break.

Amanda Millar, who bagged a hat trick at Ilkeston in October, came close to repeating that feat at the DMU Academy.

Firstly, she showed her strength to win the ball on the edge of the Anstey box before slotting home.

And then – after Nomads had pulled one back when their free kick was deflected home by Lori-Anne Tart – Millar made no mistake when a ball fell to her 15 yards out, firing home inside the right-hand post.

Butterworth came close to capping a dream debut with a hat trick goal, her shot agonisingly clipping the left upright as time ticked down.

The home side reduced the arrears deep into stoppage time when a free kick was back-heeled in but it was effectively game over long before the final whistle.

The win sees the Millers climbing into the top half of the table ahead of a short break for the League Cup on Sunday, when Gainsborough Trinity will host them in Lincolnshire for a 2pm kick-off.