The team got off to a bad start before even the first whistle was blown, Connor Lees attempted to make it to the match despite feeling unwell overnight but had to turn back after taking a turn for the worse and so we were down to 6.

The matches started earlier for Aiden , Joshua and Alex who help Chapeltown who were also short on players and they got off to winning ways after Aiden scored the only goal of the match.

Rotherham then got their matches under way against Thirsk A who were the strongest team in the league and they held their own well. Finishing off with a 1-1 draw, the goal coming from the usual source of Aiden. With a stand in player courtesy of Slazengers, the team came together well and, for the main part, they held their shape well.

Joseph was playing in his first tournament at Weetwood and settled into the team and showed good composure on the pitch and will fit nicely into the team.

Max and Joshua were quickly back into the action and this time playing against each other, Max for Slazengers and Joshua was in the net for Bradford, match finishing 2-1 in the favour of Bradford.

Rotherham were next up against Chapeltown and seemed to dominate possession but failed to capitalise on the chances they had. Joseph came as close as he ever will to scoring without getting a goal, a well taken shot at goal was saved by the keeper but the ball rolled slowly goal bound eventually stopping on the line. Chapeltown looked at the ball unsure if it was a goal or not before eventually clearing the line and the match finished 0-0.

Bradford was the next opposition for Rotherham and the team finished on the wrong end of a 1-0 result. The team had their chances, Aiden and Alex had a number of chances in the D but were unable to get the shot away, in part due to the good defensive work of Bradford . The match was theirs for the taking but they failed to play as a team, and some, made too many individual runs and paid the ultimate price when Bradford scored what proved to be the decisive goal.

Slazengers were the next opposition for the boys and they showed more of the potential they have. They began to move the ball around and work as a team and the rewards came through another Ward goal and they took the game 1-0. Archie had a great game running up and down the wing and was getting himself into great positions, always making himself available for the ball from our 16s making distribution from the back easy. Special thanks goes to Mason from Chapeltown who stood in for 3 matches and played brilliantly for us in the defence .

Our final match was against Ben Rhydding B and by now the cold weather had taken most of our subs home but thankfully Alex from Bradford stood in and helped us out. The match was hard fought and we showed the potential we have when we play as a team and there were some lovely 1-2s between Alex and Aiden and the boys gave Rhydding a game.

Unfortuately an excellent goal from Rhydding separated the two teams, and it was a gaol that Joshua could do nothing about. Max, who had played very well in defence all tournament, took a stick in the eye towards the end halting play and despite hard work by all the boys couldn’t get back on level terms and it finished 1-0.

Joshua had another fantastic tournament in the net and made a number of crucial saves which is reflected in the fact that only 3 goals were scored past him. He showed great composure and his kicking was first rate, on a number of occasions this was able to turn a defensive move into one of attack for Rotherham .

Despite some games where the team work didn’t come together as well as it can, they never stopped battling and they can all take great credit in the way they tackled back all day, and for some they played a number of games that day, but they remained committed to end.

The day finished in relegation for us but if they kick on from where the finished and work together as a team, passing and moving, then they will undoubtedly bounce straight back up.