GOALS from Chantel Padgham, Ellie Sutton and Jazz Whitwell earned York City Ladies a third win on the bounce at home to Rotherham.

The victory at York St John University’s Haxby Road complex also lifted the Minsterbelles up to third in the North Eastern Regional Women’s League.

Having completed the double over Castleford White Rose during the two previous weekends, City were made to, nevertheless, work hard for their points against bottom-of-the-table Rotherham.

The Millers were the brighter of the teams from the start but couldn’t turn their early possession into chances and didn’t trouble keeper Leigh Bamford.

As the first half continued, the home side grew into the contest with chances falling to Padgham and Ainsley Strickland from long range.

City carried that momentum into the second period, but it was the Millers who broke the deadlock with Charlotte Thomas scoring against the run of play.

The Minsterbelles struck back, however, within five minutes through winger Padgham and, soon afterwards, Sutton made it 2-1 from long range.

The Millers came close to equalising from a Rachel Hale set-piece that hit an upright.

But City secured the win when, in the dying minutes of the game, pacey left-winger Whitwell was put through one-on-one with Millers keeper Hollie Hart, and slid the ball under her.

The Minsterbelles now face a stern test on Sunday when the travel to unbeaten, top-of-the-table outfit Durham Cestria.