David Abimbola stuck twice as Wanderers progressed to the second round of the FA Youth Cup in fine fashion to extend their unbeaten start to the season to 15 games.
Julian Darby’s side got off to a rough start at the AESSEAL New York Stadium when goalkeeper Luke Lomax conceded a penalty inside the opening 60 seconds and James Clarke slotted the Millers ahead.
But Wanderers have taken some stopping this season and hit back only nine minutes later when Abimbola got the visitors back on equal terms after Daeshon Lawrence’s shot was palmed by goalkeeper Louis Bassett straight into the path of the striker who converted from close range.
Oliver Smith then tried his luck from distance with Bassett equal to his attempt with a finger-tip save to deny the Wanderers’ full-back. However, Harrison Rice’s resulting corner was met by a leaping Smith who netted his first goal of the season to continue the comeback before the half-hour mark.
And Wanderers didn’t stop there as they added two more before the break to take control of the tie.
A long ball out of defence allowed Abimbola to power his way through and finish with an effort that clipped the inside of the post on the way in to add a cushion to Wanderers’ lead.
Only 90 seconds later, Conor Lewis made it 4-1 with a superb flick into the bottom corner after some brilliant work from Daeshon Lawrence down the left to complete an excellent first-half fightback.
The second half continued in the same vain with Rice adding a fifth from some fantastic team play as Lawrence and Conor Lewis combined to play in the full-back, whose firs-time effort flew into the top corner.
Conor Lewis nearly matched Abimbola’s brace on two occasions within a five-minute spell, with the busy Bassett making two fine saves to prevent the Wanderers’ attacking midfielder adding to the lead.
With 20 minutes left the Millers pulled a goal back as Cohen Lee reduced the deficit to 5-2. But following three changes in 10-minute spell that saw first-year scholars Xander Taylor, Jack Mawiditt and Corey Thomas get a taste of the action, the Whites struck again to finish a successful night on a high.
Thomas made it six in the dying moments as another long ball caused problems in the Rotherham back line for the substitute to chip Bassett and roll the ball into an open goal.
Wanderers have a break this weekend but are back in league action when they welcome Doncaster Rovers to Lostock on Saturday 9th November when Darby’s side will be looking to maintain their place at the top of the EFL Youth Alliance.
Wanderers: Lomax, Oliver (Taylor 76), Rice, Grayson, O’Neill, Smith, Irwin, Leigh (Mawditt 86), Abimbola (L Lewis 65), C Lewis (Ritchie 65), Lawrence (Thomas 83). Subs: Shillinglaw, Nuttall.
Report and pictures: Ben Livingstone