The Millers roared into the second round of the Derbyshire Cup, smashing in ten goals past their visitors AFC Kilburn of the Central Midlands League. With several players unavailable due to injury and work commitments the Millers boss Calum Sykes was forced to make a number of changes to his side from previous weeks. Liam Flynn retained his place in goal, with Dean Williams returning on the bench after suspension, while David Dunn came into the side at left-back to make his first start for the club. Recent signing Jack Taylor lined up alongside skipper Warren Gaskin in central defence and was to produce another encouraging display. Callum Scott was reintroduced to the side on the right of midfield, with Bobby Lofthouse and Michael Jones taking the central positions, the mercurial George Blackwell taking his usual place on the left flank. With Nathan Neequaye an automatic selection in attack and Dennis Sherriff unavailable, Arron Kirk started the game in an unfamiliar attacking role.

The visitors started brightly and looked dangerous in attack, but it was not long before the Millers seized control and began to create chances at will. Just 4 minutes in Scott fired wired after a left wing cross by Blackwell and the Millers supporters were audibly concerned after their sides recent run of poor form. They needn't have worried though as within ten minutes they were two goals ahead. First on 15 minutes, Jones clipped in a delicious pass that Neequaye lashed home with a left footed volley, then just two minutes later Andy Mottershead delivered a cross from the right that Neequaye again volleyed past Alex Phillips, this time with his right foot.

On the half hour mark Blackwell opened his account for the evening and it was a goal of real quality, intercepting a clearance he raced clear on goal before looping a delightful chip over the stranded Phillips. Within minutes it was four, Bobby Lofthouse curling a low free-kick around the wall and past Phillips. Less than 60 seconds later and it was 5-0 as a right wing corner was bundled home from close range by Neequaye for his hat-trick. The fifth goal marked the end of the evening for Arron Kirk, withdrawn from the action with his job done, he was replaced by Caylem Bateson making his competitive Church Lane debut.

As half-time approached the visitors were struggling to escape from their own penalty area and it came as no surprise when Neequaye made it six, heading home a cross by Callum Scott to complete the perfect hat-trick of a goal with each of right foot, left foot and head, and also his own fourth of the tie.

The Millers were quick out of the blocks in the second half, in the opening moments Blackwell curled in a low cross presenting an opportunity from which Scott seemed certain to score, yet someone his close range effort flew over an empty net. The visitors responded with a rare foray into Millers territory, Gavin McReady charging down a Flynn clearance and leaving himself with an empty goal, however he was unable to convert the chance, shooting wide of the target.

On 55 minutes Callum Scott atoned for his earlier miss, cleverly converting a Mottershead cross, while McReady had a chance to do the same at the other end of the pitch, but saw his effort saved by Flynn. The home crowd were hungry for more goals and they got their wish with twenty minutes to play, Neequaye heading a Lofthouse free-kick across goal for Bateson to head in his first goal for the Millers. Having picked up a knock earlier in proceedings, Neequaye indicated his desire to leave the field and with only Dean Williams remaining on the substitutes bench, the goalkeeper was forced into the action in an attacking role. The change made no difference to the home sides dominance, with 15 minutes to go Blackwell relentlessly still looking to add to his goal seeing a wonderful solo effort parried away by Phillips. Blackwell was to add to his tally with ten minutes to play, rounding off a mazy dribble with a clever near post finish to make it 9-0 to the Millers. Within a minute it was almost ten, Phillips producing a good save to force a Lofthouse free-kick over the cross bar, and from the resulting corner Jack Taylor saw his header fly just over the target.

With five minutes to go AFC Kilburn were rewarded for their spirited efforts, Daniel Penerdy slotting past Flynn from just inside the penalty area for a consolation goal. There was still time for the Millers to score the final goal of the evening, Scott was bundled over in the area and Blackwell tucked away the resulting penalty for his hat-trick goal.

After a run of several games without a win with goals at a premium, this result provided a welcome tonic for Sykes side, with his attacking players able to find goal scoring form and his central defensive unit able to complete 90 minutes as a solid pairIng. The likes of David Dunn and Caylem Bateson had been peripheral figures so far this season, but they showed enough promise to suggest that they will be valuable members of the squad in the remainder of the season. There will be tougher tests to come, but the Millers have benefitted from the confidence a good run in the County Cup can bring in the past, and this season could be no different.

Line Up:

1. Liam Flynn, 2. Andy Mottershead, 3. David Dunn, 4. Michael Jones, 5. Warren Gaskin (c), 6. Jack Taylor, 7. Callum Scott, 8. Bobby Lofthouse, 9. Nathan Neequaye (Dean Williams), 10. Arron Kirk (Caylem Bateson), 11. George Blackwell