Year with goals as their teams in England suffered mixed fortunes.

Lightbourne scored in his team's 4-2 win over Wycombe on New Year's Day, the goal coming right on half time as Walsall led 3-0. On the same day, Goater watched from the bench as his Second Division team, Rotherham United, sunk deeper in the relegation zone when they went down 2-0 away to fellow struggling Hartlepool.

However, yesterday Goater started, and scored, as Rotherham bounced back with a convincing 5-2 triumph over Cardiff City. Walsall crashed 5-0 to Scunthorpe yesterday to drop from third to fifth in the Third Division standings.

"It was a comfortable win for us, the first result we've had like that for awhile,'' said Goater last night. "It was the result we needed, in the position we were in. At this stage now every game is important. There are no easy games.

"If that game can't put confidence in the team I don't know what will.'' Imre Varadi has established himself as the top striker at the club, scoring a hat-trick yesterday to take his tally for the season to 15. Goater's failure to establish an understanding with him has caused him a place in the Rotherham team, though the Bermudian's performance yesterday suggests things might be changing.

"This is the first time we've worked well together as a partnership,'' said Goater. "From the time he came I knew I wasn't number one.'' Goater came off in the last couple of minutes of the match but is confident he will keep his spot in the team and build on yesterday's performance.

"I've not been up to the standard I'm capable of, that's why I can't argue with the boss's decision to drop me.'' Goater's goal was controversial, coming after he was in an offside position following a long ball out of defence. The ball was played wide but because Goater was not involved in the play the linesman did not put up his flag. He raced through and received Andy Williams' cross which he converted to make it 2-0.