Millers succumb to five star Alfreton (Derbyshire div cup 3rd round):
Alfreton Town Res 5 - New Mills Res 0

Alfreton Town's second string had an awesome record leading into this game at North Street, beating Staveley reserves 9-0 and Buxton's reserves 7-0 in the earlier rounds, it was never going to be easy, but although the scoreline sent a message out to the remaining teams in this competition, it didn't truly reflect on this enthralling game in general. The game started at a cracking pace with both teams zipping the ball to feet on the greasy surface. Dave Wilde in Miller's net dealt with Town's goal-bound attempts with confidence beyond his age, the youth team keeper held onto the ball firmly when required, despite the unfavourable conditions. Wes Pierce had a good chance for Alfreton, in full flight he side-footed the ball but was wide of the mark. The Millers team as a whole played out of their skins, closing down Alfreton's midfield and strikeforce to good effect, inspiring each other and growing in confidence and stature as time progressed.

Millers push forward

As half-time loomed, the teams remained equal and the travelling support sensed that a win could be possible, during the second half it would be Alfreton's turn to play into the incessant rain, and with the amber shirts playing for each other with courageous desire, the faithful started to dream of victory.

But the dream turned into reality three minute's after the break, a well-taken corner kick found James Baker who powered a header into the top left giving Wilde no chance. But New Mills never gave up and Adrio's sublime trickery allowed him to cross to Lugsden who had a half chance at full stretch. Moments later and Alfreton's keeper was forced to dive smartly to his post to deny Lugsden's incredible shot. However, Town's corner kicks continued to test Wilde to his limit, who's agile heroics produced an astonishing double saved from close range.

Wilde's quickly-taken throw down the left flank broke to Lees who teased his way through and squared the ball on to Lugsden, an instinctive drive from 25 yards beat the keeper, but a lick of paint denied the Millers best move of the match, which quite frankly deserved more.

An eternity had passed before Alfreton's second goal came courtesy of a disputed free kick, scored by Radford, which normally would deflate any other team. But Adrio's long-range daisy cutter produced the best from Town's keeper who deflected the ball over the cross bar to maintain their impressive record.

Alfreton attack

During the last 15 minutes Craig Housley latched onto an unfortunate ricochet to score with ease and two late goals from Pierce gave Alfreton a hard-earned victory, but the creditable performance from Scott Moore's troops throughout the bulk of the game ensured the fans returned home with heads held high.

MILLERS: Wilde, Kv Lugsden, Bates, Dixon, Hooley, Robinson, Boston, Lees, Thomas, Adrio, Kr Lugsden. SUBS: Massey, Hackney, Jackson

1st team v Alfreton 12/01/01 (D.D.C. SEMI FINAL)

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The 1st team fell 2-1 at bogey side Dukinfield Town, a late, late penalty hit the post and fell kindly to the home side who clinched the points, Wes Gibbons scoring his 10th goal in 7 games since his debut.

North West Youth Alliance Premier Division: New Mills 1 - St. Helens 2

Saints keeper gets the height over Macca

Millers' Gibbons Breaks Hearts & Records: New Mills AFC 3 - Rochdale Sacred Heart 2 On the day that Alan Shearer scored his 100th Premier League goal, another record was smashed at Church Lane in Air Miles Manchester Premier Division. On his debut more than forty years ago, Paul Theaker scored in his first five outings for New Mills, but Millers recent signing, Wes Gibbons, went one better and has never failed to score in six apearances, notching up nine goals in the process, an impressive statistic at any level of football.

Barry Eaton was called upon first for New Mills palming the ball to apparent safety, however, the resulting corner kick was headed across to Chris Humphries whose crisp half-volley gave Rochdale the lead with 10 minutes gone. Dean Morgan broke through Hearts' impressive rear-guard, and in unselfish manner delivered a perfectly-weighted ball over to Gibbons, who drilled the ball home with stunning accuracy to create a little slice of Millers history.

Wes Gibbons slips the ball past Hearts keeper for goal number 1

Humphries scored his second for Hearts, beating the offside trap, picking his spot and side-footing past Eaton to give the lead back to the visitors. However, parity was regained on 35 minutes, Wilde was fouled inside the box and Gary Morgan tucked the penalty away, neatly into the bottom corner...
VIDEO CLIP OF GARY MORGAN'S PENALTY  > FAST (20sec) - OPTIMUM (1min) - BEST (2min)

Stacey Wild beats the defence

Rochdale looked strong in defence and dangerous on the break. New Mills were often unyielding at the back and more patient with their style of build up. For the bulk of the second half it looked like the spoils would be shared in this physical encounter, especially when Eaton dived across the face of goal to repel Hearts' goalbound strike late in the game. Likewise Dunne produced an outstanding save as full time loomed to deny an acrobatic volley from Dean Morgan (who incidentally also had a goal disallowed for offside).

But in the 94th minute of play Chris Lees drove the ball into Hearts packed defence, it fell invitingly to Gibbons whose left foot belted the ball into the back of the net, bringing rapturous applause from all around and jubilant celebrations from the Millers bench.

Dean Morgan & Wes Gibbons attack

MILLERS: Eaton, Brankin, Ignotus, Land, Pite, G Morgan 1, Littler, Wild, Hall, Gibbons 2, D Morgan. SUBS: Lees, Holdgate.

Deano Chases Down Ball - VIDEO CLIP

Gibbons Seals Millers Victory: New Mills 2 - Leigh Athletic 0

New Mills produced one of their best performances of the season in beating a strong Leigh Athletic side 2-0 at Madley Park on Saturday. The scoreline did not truly reflect the Millers dominance of the match which saw the impressive Wes Gibbons notch a goal in each half to bring his tally to seven goals in five games.

Dean Morgan, Craig Hall and Gibbons continually harried a flat-footed Leigh defence and it was some fine passing between this trio that was finished off by Gibbons sliding the ball past a stranded Chris Cooper to give the Millers the lead. Eaton was rarely troubled in the New Mills nets and the defence of Land, Pite, Brankin and Ignotus dealt comfortably with anything the Leigh attack could muster.

The second half began with the home team trying to intimidate a well organised New Mills team who certainly battled for each other. In midfield Gary Morgan, Stacey Wild and captain Stephen Littler continued to make chances for the Millers forwards. A combination of fine goalkeeping, the woodwork and some last ditch defending kept the score down. Cooper made one outstanding save from a Brankin pile-driver.

The Millers missed a penalty when Dean Morgan fired wide, but a second goal finally came when the same player sent in a cross for Gibbons who made no mistake. Leigh piled forward in the last fifteen minutes but could not reduce the arrears and when the final whistle blew the New Mills team congratulated each other on a fine performance.

A delighted Manager Alan Peatfield said "It's taken long enough for a team performance of that quality. Now it is up to the players to maintain that standard. I know we are a good team, now perhaps the players will believe it as well."

New Mills: Eaton, Land, Brankin, Ignotus, Pite, Littler, G. Morgan, Hall, D. Morgan, Gibbons, Wild. Subs Lees, Holdgate.

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No match for the Reserves at Church Lane this week following a pitch inspection this morning.

Robinson's Rocket, Just the Tonic:
New Mills Reserves 4 - Youlgreave United 1

Having played in the junior cup for many seasons, New Mills reserves stepped up into the Derbyshire Divisional competition and dispatched Youlgreave with an outstanding display of neat passing and phenomenal finishing at glorious Church Lane on Saturday.

The first real chance fell to Youlgreave's Chris Fryer who received the ball down the left wing and cut inside his marker to unleash a powerful shot at Millers keeper Dave Wilde, his excellent shot was equalled by Wilde's spectacular dive to deny the visitors lively striker.

Youlgreave's defence was unlocked on 30 minutes, the cross from Danny Thomas sailed over to the corner where Chris Lees and Rick Adrio combined well to supply Paul Robinson on the edge of the box, one of the best goals this season ensued when Robinson's venomous volley streaked past Youlgreave's Daniel Bacon, like a lightening bolt that was seeking out it's target. The Millers held the slender lead until half time with Hooley, Bates and Dixon proving a dominant force in the home-side's defence.

A minute after the break and another goal, Robinson's rocket left Bacon clutching thin air following good work from Adrio and Lees, who's trickery deceived the Hope Valley side throughout much the of the match. Kieran Lugsden curled an excellent ball over inviting Lees to head, the keeper was beaten but the crossbar kept him off the scoresheet for the time being.

Millers' Solid Defence

Rick Boston forced Bacon to save from his close-range effort, but moments later Boston closed down a Youlgreave throw, the dead ball was picked off by Lugsden who made no mistake and fired the ball in to give the Millers a commanding lead.

Chris Fryer scored a classy goal to offer some consolation, but the visitors conceded two penalties before the tie was completed, the crowd inspired Robinson to step up for the first, which although was taken well, managed to bring the best out of Bacon in goal. Chris Lees took two attempts to convert from the spot with 5 minutes remaining to seal victory and book a daunting trip to Alfreton Town Reserves at the end of the month. Transport will be arranged for this mouth watering tie, for further details check this site.

Robo's penalty strike produced a fabulous save to deny his hat-trick

Millers: Wilde, Kv Lugsden, Bates, Dixon, Hooley, Thomas, Robinson 2, Lees, Boston, Adrio, Kr Lugsden. SUBS: Hackney, Stansfield, Millington. The Match was kindly sponsored by Hallams Stocktakers, Hayfield.

Photo Fun Gallery Miller's ex-Arsenal Player!

Mark Hooley in action - see Spena's Foto-Fun caption

Ripley Rain on Millers Parade: New Mills 3 - Ripley Town 5

It's been 30 years since the Millers competed in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and their return to this competition didn't go as planned when Ripley won the toss and elected the home side to play head on into the incessant Derbyshire rain.
Ripley's keeper, Sean Machin had to be alert early on following Stacey Wild's shot from distance, the ball dipping over the crossbar for Millers first attempt.
A quarter of an hour had barely passed when one of Ripley's attacks left New Mills defenders screaming for handball, but the referee allowed play to continue and as the Millers pursued the ball, a penalty kick was awarded for Ripley's first goal courtesy of Sean Archibold.
With the home side still reeling from the events leading up to the penalty, Ripley scored a second, Gary Mercer opened his account firing underneath Eaton.
The game was effectively sealed on 35 mins when Ripley's defence dealt with Millers free kick and counter attacked down the right wing, New Mills were allowed time to get back and clear, but to no avail as Mercer scored his second and Ripley's third.
Millers' Rick Pite headed towards goal inside the box off an excellent cross from Wes Gibbons, but Machin was in a good position to deal with his chance.
The second half continued in much the same vein, the rain was appalling and the defending matched the weather. Mercer completed his hat-trick but Wes Gibbons for New Mills offered some respite to the proceedings, after excelling down the left wing his curling shot from the sideline looked full of purpose as it swerved with pace through the early evening sky, destined to beat Machin as he peddled back into the goal.
Ripley's Mercer was in unforgiving mood scoring his fourth goal of the tie leaving New Mills with a mountain to climb, but climb it they tried. While attempting to keep Ripley at bay the Millers threw caution to the wind which lead to Ignotus heading the ball in from distance, and although that goal was disallowed for offside Stephen Littler's shot found the net and with only minutes to go Stephen Done's miraculous drive deceived Ripley's keeper from an acute angle.
2 goals in the last few minutes would have been too much to ask, but that question would have been irrelevant if the home team had not played well below par.

Millers Team: Eaton, Holdgate, Brankin, Ignotus, Morgan G, Land, Littler, Pite, Wild, Gibbons, Morgan D. SUBS : Hall, Done. Match Ball kindly sponsored by Pete Noblet & Family.