Rotherham breeze past University of Leeds in penultimate home game of the season

RHC V's Uni of Leeds

The game saw Rotherham return to Aurora for their penultimate home game of the season against a Leeds University side who were full of confidence following an impressive victory the week before.

Rotherham started the game well. A quick break from the home side resulting in the first card of the game for the Leeds defender. Rotherham looked to press home their man advantage and it wasn’t long until they were able to do so! Another trademark break from the home side saw the prolific Jack Hartley tuck home a neatly worked team goal.

Rotherham continued to press forward but a lapse in concentration lead to an undeserved equaliser. This fired the home side up further and a sustained spell of pressure was rewarded with a second Rotherham goal, finished off by Mat Webb. A spell of indiscipline threatened to disrupt the flow of the game, with both sides reduced to 10 when 2 green cards were awarded for foul play! A third goal soon followed though. A chance in the ‘D’ fell to new acquisition Danny Needham, whose shot was blocked by a defenders body on the line. Ben Davis neatly tucking away the resulting penalty. 3-1 to the home side at half time.

The half time team talk revolved around the importance of the next goal, and the home side didn’t need to wait long for it to arrive. Needham picking up the pieces in the ‘D’ and flicking into the unguarded net. The team rallied however and more home pressure brought about a series of penalty corners and the home sides 5th goal. Needham again impressing with a bullet of a flick from the top of the ‘D’ that struck the crossbar. The debutant picked up his own rebound and finished exquisitely. Leeds were able to mount the odd attack and following a rash decision by goalkeeper Cooper on one of them, who clattered into a Leeds forward to gift the travelling side a penalty flick of their own. He did, however, atone his error by saving the tame effort of a penalty.

Man of the match Needham was involved again in the final action of the game, with a tempting ball across the face of the goal which was excellently deflected beyond the travelling keeper by top scorer Hartley for his second of the game.

Rotherham will look to continue their run of form as they visit York next weekend.

Match report by Mat Webb.