Rotherham United Ladies F.C began the New Year with renewed vigour in an enthralling trip to Manchester City Ladies.

The Millers girls set off with extraordinary pace, the City girls did not know what hit them. From the start Rotherham took control of the ball with Hayley Woods picking it up on the right wing. A fifty yard run past the City defence saw her knock the ball across the box to striker Suzanne Davis who shot the ball past the City keeper to put Rotherham a goal up inside the first minute.

The Millers fans who had made the journey were ecstatic. Unrelenting pressure from Rotherham saw City concede another in the 7th minute, Kerry Longstone running at the full back lofted the ball over her head and into the box, Woods who was waiting at the far post out jumped the defence and the keeper to head the ball into the goal.

The City girls started to apply pressure late into the half but excellent defending from the Millers girls prevented them from getting shots on goal. Rotherham went in at the break knowing that City would try to come back strong in the second half.

City kicked off and within two minutes had a couple of chances on the Rotherham goal which went wide. Rotherham pushed forward and the City keeper collected the ball, she kicked long and Carla Baxby headed the ball before the City midfielder and it fell to Davis feet. She went on a run up the right wing and crossed the ball into the box, two City defenders failed to clear and Kerry longstone slotted the ball past the keeper to put Rotherham three goals in front.

City were stunned, but tried to press forward. Kerry Jones in defence along with Bridgette Booth blocked any City shots and Katie Hanson cleared the lines. Hanson was on fine form when she picked the ball up in defence and passed a perfect ball through to Helen Lynsky, she knocked the ball over to Longstone on the other side of the park who crossed the ball into the six yard box for in form Davis to side foot it into an open goal.

The Millers girls were four up in the 53rd minute, the City bench was quiet, they almost had cause to cheer when in minute 63 the City number 8 ran through the Millers midfield and defence to shoot at Rotherham keeper Whitley who made an excellent save.

A substitution was made in the 68th minute when Rebbeca Hale came on for Longstone, within two minutes Hale received a pass from Lynsky with her back to goal, she turned the City full back and ran into the box, with only the keeper to beat she shot low and hard into the left side of the goal, the keeper dove only to see the ball sail under her.

Five goals to Rotherham and Davis had further shots which came off the bar and the post and Rotherham could easily have made it more. In the 90th minute after City pushed everyone into the Millers box they scored a consolation goal.

Final score 5 - 1 to Rotherham, this result sees them within two points of safety and on the performance today they are looking stronger and ready to move up the league table. A good team performance which they are looking to take into next week's game against Sheffield Wednesday Ladies in the County cup at Muglet Lane, Maltby 1.30 K.O. Rotherham United's development side are away to Steel City 2pm kick off.