It doesn’t do to be late for kick-off at Roundwood this season…

For the third game in a row, the net rippled within moments of the start – but this time it was in the home team’s favour.

Alesha Gale took barely 30 seconds to break the deadlock, spotting Chesterfield keeper Rhianne Carroll slightly out of position and smashing home from fully 30 yards.

Nerves duly settled, the Millers began to dominate this Women’s FA Cup 2nd qualifying round tie. Caitlin O’Callaghan caused jitters among the visitors with energetic runs onto the channels, while wingers Gale and Sophie Gordon were a constant thorn in the Spireites’ collective side.

Erren Davies and Milly Colford pulled the strings in midfield, relentlessly turning over possession and sparking a flood of attacks.

Having scored the opener, Gale (below) created the second with a ball chipped over the Chesterfield defence. Gordon seized onto it, rounded Carroll and tapped home.

A third arrived before the break and it was Gale involved again, racing clear and keeping her cool to slot home.

As the rain continued to lash down at Roundwood, the chances continued to come. Amy Dawson was athletically denied by Carroll, who tipped her goal-bound header onto the bar.

Gordon volleyed over and side-footed wide in the most promising moments after the break, but she was not to be denied a second, neatly cutting back onto her right and finishing inside Carroll’s near post.

A flurry of substitutions perhaps played a part in stifling the Millers’ momentum but Amanda Millar and Delia Hurdiss always looked dangerous and the latter added the icing on the cake of a satisfying display when she raced in down the right and poked home.

Erren Davies in action. Photos by Alex Roebuck 

This five-star display – featuring a cameo by returning midfielder Lauren Winter, wearing the shirt number 99, was just what the doctor ordered, delivering our first win of the season and a place in the FA Cup third qualifying round.

Next up is a midweek league match against SJR Worksop on Wednesday. Kick-off at Roundwood is at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, hotshot Jess Jones continued her free-scoring early-season form for our Under-21s with five goals in a 6-1 victory at Penistone Church.

Jones completed her hat trick within 40 minutes before adding two more either side of a strike by Leanne Corns.

The result leaves the Under-21s top of the table with seven points from four games.