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Saturday
30th April
Millers Finish With Thriller: New Mills 3 - Padiham 3
New Mills rounded off their first season back in the
North West Counties league with a thrilling finale.
They were the first side this season to beat
their opponents when they won 4-2 on
Padiham’s ground in late October. The men from
Lancashire were no doubt looking to return the compliment
at church Lane last Saturday.
Padiham started the game brightly, with the Millers
seemingly unable to get their passing game moving.
It came as no surprise when Christian Evans opened
the scoring after only 6 minutes. That lead was doubled
on 19 minutes when Gareth Seddon scored a fine goal
which gave Steven Lyons no chance in the millers goal.
However, within a minute New Mills pulled a goal
back when Paddy Littler (right)
scored from close range following a cross from the
right, which was flicked on by Senior. This was the
third successive game in which Littler had netted.
After the break it was the home side, which began
to press, and Craig Senior headed
in his 15th goal of the campaign on 55 minutes to
level the scores. Amazingly, just ten minutes later
and the Millers went in front thanks to a great individual
effort by Craig Hall - who also scored
his 15th goal of the season - when he turned and rifled
the ball high into the net. |
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Craig Hall scores again for Millers
Back came Padiham and hesitancy in the home defence allowed
Seddon to grab a second, and just moments later the crowd
were on their feet when Lyons made an outstanding save to
keep them still on level terms.
However, it was the last chance for Padiham as the Millers
pressed for the winner. They had a couple of chances through
both Wild and Hall, before in the last minute of the game
Gavin Hunter surged through, but the visiting keeper half
saved the shot and as the ball rolled agonisingly towards
the line a defender cleared it.
At the final whistle, first the Lancashire side were warmly
applauded off the field, before the home team lined up to
applaud their supporters who have been the best supported
in numbers in the division all season. The crowd of 164
then loudly cheered them off the field.
This has been a great return for the Millers who have
finished in 9th position in the league. The Reserves were
runners-up in their division and were presented with the
shield before Thursday’s game against Skelmersdale.
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Craig
Senior taken on by Padiham keeper Rob Batty |
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Bomber attacks - supported by Alex Radford
Saturday
23rd April
Millers Undone By Mechanics: New Mills 1 - Blackpool Mechanics
4
New Mills slumped to only their second home defeat
in the last nine home matches when they entertained Blackpool
Mechanics at Church Lane on Saturday.
In difficult windy conditions and a very hard and bumpy
pitch, the conditions were far from ideal to play their
usual game of passing football which is played mainly on
the deck. The visitors opened the scoring after only 6 minutes
when their captain Mark Ashall was left with an easy header
as the ball was not cleared from the right.
he Millers attempted to get back into the game but, for
all their possession they could not create any clear chances.
The lead was doubled on 29 minutes when Jamie Lester missed
a long through ball. This left Wayne Gardner with a clear
run on goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot high into
the net leaving the Millers goalkeeper Steven Ltons with
no chance.
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Scorer
Paddy Littler in action |
Any thoughts of a come back after the
break were dashed when Colin Sullivan drove in a fierce
free kick to increase the score. New Mills then got
a consolation through Paddy Littler who
scored from close range.
Within sixty seconds the home supporters were shouting
for a penalty when Gavin Hunter was clearly held back,
but the referee ignored the protests. With time running
out, the right full-back for the Fylde side, Gavin
Hughes, wrapped up the scoring.
This was a poor performance from New Mills who in
recent weeks have set themselves a very high standard.
Credit to the Mechanics who were worthy of this win.
After the final whistle the Millers management duo
of Scott Moore and Malcom Boswell - who have been
reappointed for next season - kept all the players
on the pitch for a thorough 20-minute work out. |
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Mechs keeper punches clear
Saturday
16th April
Millers Back To Winning Ways: New Mills 4 - Holker Old Boys
3
New Mills got back to winning
ways with a thrilling victory over the Old Boys of
Barrow at Church Lane on Saturday.
The game was barely sixty seconds old when Craig
Senior was put through and as he advanced towards
the goal he skied his shot high and wide.
More chances were created before Craig Hall
skipped around the keeper to put the home
side ahead on 25 minutes despite appeals of offside
from the visitors.
The lead was doubled just ten minutes later when
Ignotus played a precision pass through to Hall who
went past a defender and squared the ball to Craig
Senior who tapped in from close range. This
put the two marksmen from New Mills on 14 goals apiece
for the season.
Just when it looked as though that would end the
scoring for the first half the home defence pushed
up in a vain attempt to catch Dave Leach offside,
but he had timed his run perfectly and he gave Steve
Lyons no chance to reduce the arrears.
However, straight from the kick off New Mills stormed
forward and Ryan Radford hit an unstoppable
volley from around 20 yards, which flew past Paul
Hewson to restore the two goal advantage.
In the first minute of the second period Senior
had another guilt-edged chance from just a couple
of yards out, but he mistimed his head and the chance
had gone.
With the locals thinking that this was going to be
easy, they were left stunned with the Holker team
scoring two goals in quick succession, and they both
were via the boot of Leach. Incredibly it was with
the Millers back four once again not pushing out quick
enough from the back, thus leaving Leach the chances
to grab a fine hat trick and this is what he did superbly.
The men in black and amber were spurred into action
and so began an avalanche of attacking play, with
them pegging their opponents back in their own half.
Hall went close on a couple of occasions including
one, which brought out a spectacular save from Hewson.
With time beginning to run out, the Millers were
awarded a free kick right on the edge of the penalty
area. Stacey Wild asked the referee Mr Tavinder if
he could take it quickly. The official nodded and
Wild promptly stroked the ball into
the corner of the net amidst great cheering as the
Holker defence was trying to organise a defensive
wall.
This was a thoroughly deserved win for New Mills,
who it is fair to say made hard work of a game which
they could have won by a big margin. However, they
are playing really well at the moment and the crowd
of 170 went home happy in the knowledge that their
team are currently nicely placed in a very respectable
7th place in the league table. |
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Craig Hall faces open goal
for Millers' first
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Craig Senior avoids Old Boys'
keeper
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Ryan Radford looks around for
support
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Stacey Wild secured the points
for Millers
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Old Boys' keeper puts the ball round
the upright to deny Millers a 4th goal
This Saturday they are again at home this time to Blackpool
Mechanics. The Millers won on their visit to the Fylde Coast
back in September and they will be anxious to maintain their
good form.
The Reserves had their game called off at Skelmersdale last
weekend. However, they are at home on both Tuesday and Thursday
evenings when they entertain Padiham and Squires Gate. They
unluckily lost last Wednesday when they travelled to face
the full first team of Bacup Borough. The team included
two former Manchester United players David May and Ben Thornley
who scored the last minute winner.
Saturday
9th April
Cheadle Town 2 - New Mills AFC 1
New Mills lost their unbeaten run of six games
when they slipped to a defeat at Park Road against Cheadle
Town on Saturday. The Millers had beaten Town by
a similar scoreline at Church Lane on Easter Monday.
The men from the High Peak were straight out of the blocks
on the kick-off and it was no surprise when they took the
lead after just 7 minutes. Paddy Littler won the ball with
a thumping challenge and played a perfect pass out to Craig
Hall. He hit a rasping first time shot, which flew
past Troy Whittle into the net. This was Hall’s 7th
goal in the last 7 games and he worked tirelessly all afternoon
giving the home defence a torrid time.
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Craig Hall in white opens scoring for Millers
The Millers appeared to be in total control, but on 25
minutes a mistake by Blackburn allowed Aaron Riley to run
through and score with ease. A similar mistake this time
on the left-hand side allowed Cheadle to take the lead on
37 minutes with Darren McConnell converting.
The second half saw the New Mills side rally and they
were almost constantly inside the opponents half. There
was only one save required by Steven Lyons, and he had to
rush out to clear a long ball. As the game wore on it was
clear that New Mills were having no luck, and this was evident
in the closing stages when they hit the Cheadle cross bar
twice. First, Kyle Harrison turned smartly in the area to
hit the underside of the bar - the ball coming down on the
line and was cleared. Then a great free kick by Ryan Radford
was smartly turned onto the bar by Whittle.
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Ryan Radford's free kick clears the wall
Although the Millers suffered defeat they can take consolation
of a good run of form. They will need to be on this form
when they entertain top side Silsden at Church Lane on Tuesday.
On Saturday they are again at home to Cumbrian side Holker
Old Boys with the game kicking off at 3 pm. The Second team
will be at home next week on both Tuesday and Thursday evening
to Padiham and Squires Gate respectively. Both these game
start at 7.45 pm.
Tuesday
5th April
Millers Beat The Old Boys: New Mills AFC1 - Leek CSOB 0
New Mills extended their unbeaten run to six games
on Tuesday night at Church Lane when they beat the in form
Leek CSOB thanks to a goal from Craig Hall. The
game itself was a cracker with the Millers taking the game
to their opponents from the kick off. Although they had
plenty of possession there were few clear-cut chances in
the first period.
The Millers stated their intentions straight after the resumption
of the second half. A great cross was played into the Old
Boys' six yard box, where amazingly, Adam Blackburn knocked
it over the top from just a couple of yards out. However,
they were not denied just two minutes later when Hall lobbed
the advancing goalkeeper to open the scoring. The same player
almost made it two later when he was brilliantly tackled
as he was about to pull the trigger with only the visiting
custodian to beat. The team were once again warmly applauded
off the field after a thoroughly deserved victory.
Saturday
2nd April
Hall Rescues Millers: Castleton Gabriels 1 - New Mills AFC
1
New Mills were only seconds away from suffering
a double loss to the bottom-of-the-table side at Rochdale
on Saturday, before Craig Hall nipped in to gain a share
of the spoils. This was a game in which the Millers
could have and should have won quite easily.
In the first half, which they almost totally dominated,
they hit the home cross bar on two occasions - both of them
by the lively Hall. The second occasion saw the ball rebound
to Adam Blackburn just a couple of yards out and he somehow
managed to miss the target.
The second half brought more of the same, and it seemed
the only way that Gabriel’s would score was from a
mistake, and so it proved. The ball was needlessly given
away on the wing. The ball was crossed into the centre and
Cotton scored with a simple header after 55 minutes.
The Millers tried in vain to respond and just as it seemed
that they were going to be denied the luck that had eluded
them all afternoon up popped Hall to finish
from close range.
The Millers will be a little disappointed to have dropped
a couple of points, but they continue on their good unbeaten
run. This will be put to the test on Tuesday when they entertain
Leek CSOB. They are away on Saturday as are the second team,
but the first team will be at home next Tuesday April 12th
when highflying new boys Silsden make a first ever visit
to Church Lane.
It has been a disappointing week for New Mills
Reserves. Last Saturday they went down 2-1 at Flixton
with their goal coming via Stephen Done. On Tuesday evening
Skelmersdale duly won their game at Padiham to win the League
Championship - thus the Millers had to settle for the runners-up
spot. On Wednesday they were held to a 1-1 draw at home
by Flixton after Adam Blackburn had given them a 35 second
lead. And on Saturday they were beaten 3-0 at home by Chadderton.
This weekend they visit Squire’s Gate.
Saturday
2nd April
New Mills Reserves 0 - Chadderton Res 3
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