Saturday 27th March                                                             Photos: Geoff Potts
New Mills Res 2 - Wythenshawe Res 3

New Mills started brightly and carved out some good chances, the ball was cleared off the line twice and the visitors keeper had to be on top form to smother Blackburn's advances.

Wythenshawe entered the dressing rooms at half time three goals to the good but during the second half Adam Blackburn reduced the arrears and then scored a second from the penalty spot. New Mills continued to push forward during the last 15 minutes, but the equaliser, although merited, never came.

A weakened 1st Team travelled to Springhead losing by four goals to nil.

Blackburn shoots through packed Ammies defence

Penalty wrong-foots Ammies keeper

Blackburn rounds keeper in first half attack

David Bailey in first-half action

Bailey heads ball on

New Mills slipped to another defeat at Church Lane, but they certainly did not have lady luck on their side. Their opponents were Highfield United and the first half was pretty even with neither side looking like scoring. The game changed on 20 minutes when the referee adjudged that a home defender was guilty of a push in the box and promptly awarded the visitors a penalty. The kick was converted by Carl Lomax and that was the only goal of the first period.

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Miller's incoming free-kick

After the break it was the homesters who did most of the pressing and were denied by the woodwork with the keeper well beaten. With just ten minutes remaining Highfield were awarded a more clear cut penalty, which was easily despatched by Lomax to double the lead. Adam Blackburn was brought down by the last defender but the official decided to play advantage and this came to nothing.

Cross is too high for Bomber

Julian Dowe challeges for high ball

Blackburn attack thwarted

The afternoon was best summed up when in the closing minutes a visiting defender punched the ball from his own crossbar, but incredibly a penalty was not awarded.

TEAM: Candlin, Land, Kel Lugsden, Bates, Pickering, Black, Littler, Buckley, Blackburn, Dowe subs; Ignotus, Wild.

The Reserves faired much better winning 3-1 at Ashton Athletic, Stephen Done bagged a brace and Jason Clarke added his name to the score sheet also.

New Mills hopes of reaching their first Gilgryst Cup Final since 1970 were shattered by league leaders Royton Town. Even the Millers must have been surprised at the way the home side came at them from the start, with Ben Candlin busy right from the off, he made a couple of good saves early doors before eventually being beaten. The next ten minutes then saw the game totally disappear for the Millers as a combination of good finishing and poor defending saw them go 4-0 down. Stephen Littler headed in for the Millers just before half-time to give the travelling supporters something to cheer, but most were happy just to hear the whistle for half-time. The second half was a lot more even with both sides creating chances, Stacey Wild went close for the Millers and Adam Blackburn rattled the crossbar with a header. However Town added two more and all the visitors could muster was a late consolation when "Bomber" fired home.

Ben Candlin Tips ball to safety

Bomber Blackburn header

The Town scorers were Danny Taylor 2, Phil Edgehill 2, Paul Ashton & Ian Hulme.
Millers line-up: Candlin, Land, Kel. Lugsden, Jackson, Ignotus, Bates, Dowe, Littler, Buckley, Blackburn, Wild. Sub Lees.

Royton under pressure

New Mills Reserves drew 1-1 at home to Ashton Athletic.

On Saturday the first team take on Highfield United in a vital Premier League game. KO 2.30.

A reminder that a Sportsmans Evening is being held on 8th April, with the main speaker ex Chelsea and England centre forward Peter Osgood. Tickets priced £20 are available now from the club. For more information ring 01663-747435.

New Mills poor home form continued on Saturday with a poor performance against fellow strugglers Wythenshawe Amateurs.

In a first half littered with mistakes, neither side showed any quality and did little to warm up the Church Lane faithful. In a half with few chances, with neither side looking like scoring, Wythenshawe took the lead when a corner was headed down by Thompson and Preston fired home.

Still the Millers struggled to raise their game, with their only chance falling to Billy Craven who failed to get on the end of Steven Lands cross.

Candlin Pounces

The second half offered little in the way of improvement with both sides struggling to find any consistency. The home side were reduced to ten men when keeper Ben Candlin was sent off with David Bailey taking over in goal. As often happens when a team is reduced, the Milers suddenly found some form and began to apply some pressure to the visitors goal. Kelvin Lugsden and Stacey Wild both had great chances to level and then Matt Buckley's free kick rattled the Ammies crossbar as the Millers pushed forward.

Ammies keeper Bailey punches clear from corner

Kieran Lugsden

However, in the dying seconds with New Mills pushing forward, Tomlinson put the game beyond doubt, condemning the Millers to yet another home defeat. After the game Millers Manager said "Our away form is as good as anything in the league, however at home we need to show more passion and not just think we can turn up and collect the points'. This defeat will not help the Millers confidence as they prepare for their Gilgryst Cup Semi Final next Saturday. The only blessing is it's AWAY! Millers Line-up: Candlin, Land, Lugsden Kel, Bates, Bailey, Jackson, Littler, Pickering, Wild, Gibbons, Craven, Subs. Black, Lugsden Kie, Buckley.

Scott Black's debut

New Mills Reserves drew 3-3 away at bottom of the table Leigh Athletic after leading 3-0. Line-up: Tester, Scott, Brown, Warhurst, Crossland, Brankin, Clarke, Hall, Blackburn, Done, Prodromus. Subs. Millington, Adam.

Next Saturday the Reserves are at home to Ashton Athletic Kick-Off 2.30
The 1st team travel to Royton Town in the Gilgryst Cup Semi-Final . A coach will leave Church Lane at 11.45 for the 2 p.m. Kick-Off. Fare Adults £2, Concessions £1