City reserves 1 Rotherham reserves 4

 Peter Thorne’s goalscoring return to action was the main highlight on an otherwise bad night for City reserves in totesport.com League East.

Rotherham had already struck twice through Stephen Brogan and Drewe Broughton before Thorne, who lasted an hour, registered City’s goal with a well-taken left-footed strike.

The Bantams’ first reserve match in nearly two months marked the return from injury of Thorne, Steve O’Leary and Leon Osborne.

But two further goals from the visitors by Jamie Green and Brogan ensured it would end in a defeat for the Bantams.

O’Leary, whose contract expires at the weekend, was replaced at half-time after a quiet but steady performance in the midfield.

In the less than perfect playing conditions, it was the Bantams that made the early running.

City goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin was a mere spectator for the opening exchanges as City pressed their visitors.

For all their early pressure, they only had an off-target Luke Dean effort to show for it.

As the match progressed, Rotherham seemed to feel more comfortable in their surroundings and they took the lead in the 17th minute as Craig Gladwin slid the ball across to Brogan, who side-footed past McLaughlin.

The Millers doubled their lead after full back Curtis Collantine lost possession high up the field, leaving his team-mates exposed.

The recovering O’Leary did well to force Green wide but the Rotherham winger still managed to dig out a deep cross which allowed Broughton to beat McLau-ghlin with a header into the bottom corner.

On 33 minutes, Rory Boulding played Thorne into space inside the Rotherham area with a perfectly-weighted throughball and the veteran striker beat Jamie Annerson with a clinical finish.

Thorne could have had a second in as many minutes but he could only direct his header straight at Annerson after being picked out by Luke Sharry.

Ten minutes into the second half, Taylor raced clear and squared for Green, who had the simplest of finishes from close range, and, with 16 minutes left, Brogan slammed home the fourth from close range.

City reserves: McLaughlin, Collantine, Villermann, O’Leary (Carson 46), Cutler, Horne (Robinson 46), Sharry, Dean, Boulding, Thorne (Stephenson 60), Osborne. Substitutes not used: Elliott, Harrison