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The season started way back 11 months ago as Internet Millers entertained Sheffield Wednesday at Hooton Lodge in monsoon conditions in what was their first game since winning Worldnet. The game didn't start well as two defensive errors saw the Millers slip to a two-goal deficit. However, a four goal burst late in the second half saved their blushes and a hat-trick from Steve Burns and a nice goal from Jammer gave them breathing space but Wednesday pulled a late goal back after Sharky rushed out and missed the ball. They held on though to record a morale boosting derby victory and start in winning fashion.
SEPTEMBER
It was six weeks until the next game when the Millers hosting Darlington at Herringthorpe, with the North East team hoping for revenge after they were dumped out at the last 16 stage of Worldnet by Rotherham. This was a comprehensive victory for the home side though as a superb first half performance with a new 4-5-1 formation saw the Millers enter the break 3-0 up with goals from Burnsy, Denti and Gaz. A change of formation and personnel at the break did not stop the onslaught continuing as Burnsy grabbed his second and JV opened his account for the season. Darlo were a weak team but the game was played in good spirit and it was two wins out of two for the Millers!
A couple of weeks later the boys travelled to Forest and unfortunately not much of the game will be remembered as Daddy Grist stole the show with his best impression of a tourettes sufferer as he volleyed a pile of abuse at anyone coming near him following his disagreement with team selection. Ironically the player (apart from Denti and JV) that got most of the abuse was the “flash Johan Cryuff ponce” Gav who's two goals were decisive in a 2-1 victory that saw the Millers beat Forest in a league game for the first time.
OCTOBER
The Millers went to Scunthorpe hoping to keep their 100% record in tact to play a team that had publicly stated they knew how to stop us. That statement was made to look particularly foolish as a savage first half performance from Rotherham tore Scunthorpe apart at will and saw them establish a 4-0 lead. A hat-trick for Burnsy and a goal for JV were only four of many, many chances that went in to the Scunny goal. The second half saw Scunny playing for pride so it was a tighter affair but the away side shrugged off the shackles and added two more goals with a fourth for Burnsy and a nice top corner effort from Gaz.
NOVEMBER
The FA Cup draw saw Rotherham at home to Mansfield so this was a good opportunity for the two IFA teams to meet for the first time. Bringing a young side to Hooton Lodge Rotherham were soon dominant but only managed one goal before the break with returnee from Iraq, Gilby setting up Burnsy. The second half was a much easier affair and goals flew in. Jebu got two and Gilby, Andy Parker and JV all notched one to make it an empahtic victory.
We travelled to Barnsley aiming for a hat-trick of 6-0 wins and we went very close. In freezing conditions we started well with JV giving us the lead. We had chance after chance after chance to add a second but it was not until late in to the second half that we got a second. Andy P scored from the rebound of his saved penalty and then the floodgates opened with Lee, Burnsy and Jebu all adding further goals.
DECEMBER
Internet Millers hosted Leicester at Herringthorpe and when the visitors arrived with only 8 men and only four of them able to kick a ball, the boys expected and got a goal glut. It was six by half time with Burnsy and JV getting braces and Andy and Yeardy also scoring in what was a game that was just too easy. The second half saw big changes in personnel but that did not stop the scoring with Chris Grist and newbie Mike getting two goals a piece. Leicester did score twice, courtesy of players from our side donning their shirts but 10-2 should have been 100-2!
It was in their eighth game of the season against Hull that IMFC lost their 100% record and it was a game that saw manager, Andy Parker resign soon after. The first half was a good performance for the Rotherham and despite going a goal down against the run of play, came back well to lead 3-1 at the break with a brace from Burnsy and a tap in from Lee. The second half started off abysmally and the Millers soon found themselves 4-3 down after some shambolic and what was revealed later on to be drunken defending! The Millers fought back though and got an equaliser thanks to Lee and almost grabbed a winner but just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net. Politics that took place after the game led to Andy P's departure and Burnsy replaced him.
That was their last game of what was a highly successful 2005 for Internet Millers and despite losing their 100% record they still were top of the league on a pro rota basis!!
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