My first opportunity to watch our Development side this season and wow what an opening half as the Millers raced into a five goal lead with some superb goals in a stunning first half display. A spirited second half from East Grinstead who passed the ball well and two quality finishes into the top corner of the net gave the scoreline some respectability but the damage had already been done and those five first half goals ensured the three points went to the Millers.

Manager Marc Mortlock’s line up was an intriguing mix, a good few of our young U18 side and only one player above 20 that being the hugely experienced striker Gavin Tomlin. Great to see Gavin enjoying his football as he seeks a return to full fitness and his encouragement, knowledge of the game and guile was there for all to see.

The Millers opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a quality goal, a pin point Ryan Penton cross superbly headed home by Harry Day, giving the keeper no chance. The Millers increased the lead six minutes later, Tomlin using his experience to delay the short pass to Day who got there a fraction before the defender and was brought down in the box and a penalty awarded. Tomlin stepped up and although the keeper got a hand to it diving to his left the shot had sufficient power to go in off the post.

The Millers went 3-0 up on 23 minutes, Jack Beerling made a run through the middle passed out wide to Josiah Jones whose cross was met by Charlie Smeeth whose header back across the goal again gave the keeper no chance.

On fire now the Millers continued to create chances with Tomlin going close twice, a shot just past the upright and forcing the keeper to make a fine save with another. The fourth did eventually come on 32 minutes when the hardworking striker Harry Smith's long range low shot deceived the keeper to find the back of the net.

Tomlin added his second and the Millers fifth shortly after, Day broke and passed to Tomlin in the box who curled a sublime shot into the far corner of the net.

East Grinstead although five down had looked to pass the ball throughout and always looked dangerous going forward. Alex Nika in the Millers goal was called on to make a great save in the 38th minute and indeed the Millers defence had to be alert throughout the half.

The Millers never reached the heights of the first half in the second but the damage had already been done. Credit to East Grinstead who kept passing the ball and Nika was by far the busier of the two keepers after the interval and made a fine save from a lob in the 50th minute. East Grinstead were rewarded with a goal in the 62nd minute a quality finish curled into the top corner from no 15 Atarhe Igbesoko from the edge of the box.

Nika produced a couple of good saves, one going in the top corner and another low down in the corner. However with eight minutes remaining he could do nothing as East Grinstead's no 17 Diego Carmo, produced a fine finish to pull a second goal back to make it 5-2.

In the final moments the evergreen Tomlin raced through on goal and with onlookers perhaps expecting a trademark precise or crafty finish he merely hit the ball it as hard as he could and the keeper stood firm to block the effort. Final score and victory to the Millers 5-2.

Millers line up: Nika, Jones, Smeeth, Salmon, Beerling, Crispin, Day, Penton, Smith, Tomlin, Potter subs both used Gordon, Parrott.
Goals: CV - Day 8, Tomlin 14 (pen), 35, Smeeth 23, Smith 32

Next up for the U23 Development side is a home league fixture at the Artic Stadium this coming Saturday v Tooting & Mitcham kick off 3pm and admission is just £3 adults and £1 children. With both sides having unbeaten starts it promises to be a close encounter.

Match Photos: Brownie Sports Photography

Gavin Tomlin curls home the fifth goal