January
The first game of 2006 came when it was just two days old as the Millers took a strong looking squad across to Tranmere for a first ever fixture between the two teams. Rotherham were obviously high profile opposition as the hosts produced their highest squad number of the season but they were still no match for the Millers who cruised through this game. The first half saw us score four goals, all of them coming via the boot of Burnsy, though he did have some fine service. Many others had chances but just couldn't score. The second half, despite huge changes again, was no less of a walkover and a further four goals were scored. Burnsy completed his double hat-trick, wishing he could bag this defence up and take it around everywhere with him and Lee grabbed a brace. Efforts were flying in from all over the place in the end and special mention to Benno who's curling effort looked destined for the goal until the stand in keeper came from nowhere to tip the ball on to the post. That has been the nearest this kid has come to scoring in a long time. Millers win 8-0!
Next up was a tough looking trip to Watford with Rotherham hoping to avenge a league double that the Hornets secured over them last season. They did it in style as this was arguably Rotherham's best overall performance of the season as they mullered Watford from start to finish. Despite dominating we could only manage one first half goal thanks to that man Burnsy but the second half was a different affair as we ran rampant with a first touch goal for Jammer and a hat-trick from Burnsy making his total four. Plenty of others once again tried to get on the score sheet but it remained at 5-0!
January continued with a return visit of Forest and luckily Grist was not a prime figure on the touchline this time. A tough game promised for the Millers and the first half was a very tight affair with perhaps Rotherham shading things and they went in a goal up thanks to Burnsy again. The second half didn't start well for the champions elect though as they were pegged back early on after a midfield run wasn't tracked. Previous Internet Millers teams may have folded and collapsed but not this team as they responded in true style. Burnsy restored the lead with a neat finish and Gilby bagged his second of the season to give the Millers a cushion and as Forest pushed forward JV had a late tap in to make it 4-1 and a comfortable victory.
The Millers owed Darlington a rematch so they travelled up the A1 to play on a mudbath of a pitch. This did not stop the game going the way of the form book and the Millers led 2-0 at half time with two stunning goals. Duds was the first to shock everyone with a right footed cracker and then Mike scored a 40 yard stunner with a little help from the keeper. The second half followed suit, and Burnsy got on the scoresheet with a brace that saw him keep his record up of scoring in every game he has played this season. 4-0 and easy.
February
Februarybegan with a third consecutive trip to Edinburgh in the IFA Cup to face Hearts that also counted as a league game. The Millers have had notorious difficultly in travelling to Edinburgh and getting a result and they were hoping that it would be third time lucky. In windy conditions they set about making it that as they started very well and went in to a two goal lead thanks to good set plays from Gaz. Burnsy was on hand to tap the first goal in following a corner and JV got the second when he turned in a long throw.
The second half was a different affair as the Millers were against the wind. They held on for a while despite conceding a penalty until Hearts did get a goal back to make it a nervy affair. However, it was the away team that got the vital next goal and held out to record a 3-1 win to progress to the quarter finals and move closer to the league title!
It didn't get any easier for the Millers as next up they faced QPR in a re run of the Worldnet final and the game featured arguably the best two teams in the IFA League. It was inevitably a tight affair and you got the feeling that one goal was always going to settle it and luckily that goal came from Burnsy after another tap in. The Millers were the team that looked like scoring again but the game petered out with the only other action being Benno getting threatened of being knifed by the QPR manager. Nice!
March
The only game of March saw the team travel to West Yorkshire for their annual thrashing of Huddersfield and continued the tradition with the home team only having eight players. Rotherham donated a couple to make it a 10 a side game but this did not stop them filling their boots. A complete dominance saw the Millers score 10 (ten) goals with Adis, Gaz (3) Jammer (3) Lee (2) providing the firepower. It would just not be an IMFC game without Burnsy getting on the score sheet and since he was playing for the opposition he still did, twice in fact to make the final score 10-2.
April
Tranmere made the return journey to Rotherham and raised a decent side despite being thumped 8-0 early in the new year. This game was to be a similar affair despite Jebu having to play up front for the Millers. In fact he scored twice as we forged a 3-0 lead at half time with Lee grabbing the other. The second half was a little more difficult yet we still grabbed another three with John, Symon and JV getting the goals. We did concede one though but it was nothing more than a consolation in a 6-1 victory.
Next up was a trip to Mansfield to do the honours and return the fixture from November. This time round though it was far from easy as an under strength team struggled to beat a young Mansfield side. This game created a season first as it was the only time that Burnsy did not score for us in a game, with Chris Grist bagging the only goal of a 1-0 win.
That win prepared the Millers for what was their biggest game of the season to date when they faced Hibs at home in a combined league and cup game. There was so much in this game in terms of history and future and it was a full-blooded affair. Rotherham didn't start greatly and found themselves a goal down after a dreadful goalkeeping error. However, they showed good bouncebackability to overturn that deficit with two goals from Jammer. They couldn't capitalise though and more suspect goalkeeping contributed to Hibs leading 3-2 at the break. Despite wanting to press on the Millers fell further behind when a tame shot found it's way in. The Millers had to rally and did so with Burnsy soon reducing the arrears. After that goal total domination ensued and the Millers miraculously went on to lead 6-4 with Burnsy grabbing all three of the remaining goals. The Millers closed the game out to go top of the league and achieve semi final status!
April closed out with Rotherham visiting Hull in torrential rain. Hull remained the only team not to lose to them all season so the visitors, without several key players like Yeard, Dan and Jammer knew they were in for a tough game. And they were not helped by some truly shambolic defending and goalkeeping soon finding themselves 2-0 down. They soon levelled with goals from Burnsy and JV but immediately conceded again. The defence could just not cope with the balls being played in to the box and despite further goals from Burnsy (2) and JV the unbeaten record that had lasted almost 12 months had been lost in a 7-5 defeat.
July
After another defeat in the cup semi final to Preston, the lads had a couple of months off and finally resumed playing at Leicester and thus completing their 20 games for the season. It was an almost full strength team that started and struggled to get going and found themselves a goal down. They rallied though and equalised through Gaz capping off a wonderful team goal. The second half was very much a Rotherham onslaught and goal machine Burnsy seeming to have a rare off day as it looked like he had left his finishing boots at home. He found them eventually though as he smashed home the winner to secure a winning finish and the confirmation that the Internet Millers were IFA League Champions 2005/2006.