Trophy number two for Rotherham United ace Dan Barlaser after February firecracker

The 25-year-old's stunning volley that earned the Millers a 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley at AESSEAL New York Stadium has been voted the best third-tier goal of February.

Barlaser, who won the December Player-of-the-Month gong, said: “I knew when it left my foot that it had a massive chance of going in.

“I can't recall scoring many better in my career, particularly with the connection I made with the ball and how I had to watch it come out of the air."

The Geordie, who has hit the target eight times this season, received 69 per cent of the public voting to beat off competition from Oxford United’s Billy Bodin and Cheltenham Town’s Elliott Bonds.

He came up with the goods in the 57th minute against Stanley on February 5, stretching to meet Michael Ihiekwe's header and sending the ball flashing into the net from around 25 yards.

He said: “I’m very happy to receive the award. The importance of the goal was more significant than it being a good strike. It helped us to win the game."

Sky Sports EFL pundit Don Goodman, who put the Rotherham playmaker on the three-man shortlist, said: “So few players could execute a volley like that.

“Barlaser's effort was made all the more impressive by the fact that he was slightly on the stretch yet still managed to control the strike and keep the ball down with brilliant technique.”