Boulding goal not enough

9:13pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

Rotherham reserves 2, City reserves 1

Rory Boulding scored the consolation goal as City’s reserves opened their Central League East campaign with defeat to Rotherham at Don Valley Stadium.

Both sides had experience in their ranks, which made for an entertaining affair played in blustery conditions.

Boulding, Luke Sharry and Leon Osborne had good early chances for City before Rotherham took the lead in the 20th minute.

Mark Bower failed to deal with a high ball and Mark Burchill laid the ball off to Micky Cummins, whose first-time shot went in off the post from the edge of the area.

Burchill doubled the lead eight minutes later as he took advantage of confusion in the City defence to lob keeper Jon McLaughlin.

But City reduced the arrears after 35 minutes when Louis Horne’s through-ball saw Boulding beat the offside trap and round Millers keeper Steven Cann.

Boulding, Taylforth, Sharry and substitute Luke Dean all went close to equalising in the second half as City finished strongly without any joy.

City: McLaughlin, Moncur, O’Brien, Sharry, Ainge, Bower, Osborne, Horne, R Boulding, Topp (Dean), Taylforth (Bleau). Subs (not used): Bellamy, Elliott, Carson.