Saturday 18th January  (Photos: Geoff Potts)

Late Thomas Strike Shares the Spoils:
New Mills Reserves 2- Stockport Georgians 2

Following 2 weeks of postponements, football returned to Church Lane when Millers second string entertained high-flying Stockport Georgians who had already won by 5 goals to 2 in the first fixture of this seasons campaign.

Georgians' Keeper Covers Cross

Done Challenges

New Mills took the lead shortly before the break, Greg Dixon crossed from the wing forcing Georgians' keeper to claw the ball off his line, some over-elaborate play failed to find the net but Rick Boston's decisiveness was needed to slam the ball into the top left hand corner. Parity was regained for the visitors on 50 minutes, Morgan found the top left also to emulate Boston's earlier blockbuster.

A bitter blow for the Millers when Bates left the field through injury, Andy Morelle making his return to give the home side a new attacking dimension, but it was the visitors who seized the initiative, Luke Seaton heading home from a fine corner kick. The Millers pressed on, Morelle zipped the ball in but Hackney's glancing header was dealt with comfortably.

Millers Attack - Click to Enlarge, then click Back

Deep into time-added-on the Millers last throw of the dice paid off, Dave Wild in goal threw the ball out to Callum Clarke who took the ball on and passed to Morelle on the right wing, the crowd urged him to shoot so he obliged with a stinging drive too hot for Georgians' keeper on his six yard line, with just 15 seconds left on the clock Danny Thomas belted the ball home to earn a well deserved point. If this direct approach was adopted earlier then a home win against a very good side could have been more than a strong possibility.

A Blur of Speed from Danny Thomas - Too Fast for the Naked Eye!

Saturday 4th January  (Report: Jahn Spina)

The Mighty Millers Stun League Leaders:
Wythenshaw Amateurs 0 - New Mills AFC 1

A weakened side forced Alan Peatfield to don his boots for the first time this century, taking the reigns in goal following the disappearance of Ben Candlin (last seen heading for Wythenshaw Town's ground - Moped shown right) and managed to save 18 penalties to clinch the 3 points in the scrappiest game seen so far this season!

Geoff Potts came on as substitute on 59 seconds, his lightening pace proved too much for the meanest defence in the league and when close in on goal his camera flash blinded Ammies keeper but denied his scorching effort anyway.

Wes Gibbons and Dean Morgan collided leading to a further double substitution, Glyn Jones played mid week for Wales scoring his seventh hat-trick in succession, but Mark Hughes flew him back from Azerbaijan in the nick of time and young Ashley Thomas deceived the referee by abandoning ball duties to take Morgan's position up front, hiding her blonde locks underneath Stacey Wild's spare wig.

During the half time break Greenwood parachuted out of Quantas flight QA564 en route from Oz, and managed to knock out the unbiased ref, who incidentally gave Ammies 18 penalties, 17 of which were not the fault of the rejuvenated Holdgate, released from quarantine only hours earlier. From that moment on it was all one-way traffic, some guy called Henderson was dragged from the bar to take control of the whistle, but as the final 44 minutes got underway last orders were called and he mysteriously went absent allowing New Mills to run riot on Ammies goal. A dubious free kick was awarded to the Millers, but the rusty Alan Peatfield blasted the ball half way back to the Peak District as Ammies keeper was borrowing Piety's lipstick, then New Mills scored a cracker from the half way line, but Henderson not only disallowed a good goal, but invited Thomas into the bar for a drink of coke (well she has been far too cold this season) so the ten remaining would have to soldier on.

Then Potts got into a scuffle with several of Ammies players and fans, but somehow managed to come out of it camera intact, but the piace-de-resistance came in the 9th minute of added time, Peatfield's long throw found the Welsh Wizard Jones free on the wing, who kindly asked the linesman "what he thought about devolution" before limply passing the ball to Potts who complained about the poor visibility before crossing to Stacey Wild's wig, a deft lob bounced off Ben Candlin's

Peatfield's Scorer, - German import too sleek for League leaders

'Flying High' - Sat 4 Jan 2003 - AIR MILES Manchester Football League Press Release