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Monday
28th March
New Mills AFC 2 - Cheadle Town 1
New Mills created quite a few chances during the 1st half
but only led 1-0 at half time, Craig Senior
heading in following good work from Stacey Wild on the left
wing.
Adam Hughes looked indomitable in Miller's goal but was
forced to leave the field on the hour mark, Simon "Velcro"
Ignotus donned the keeper's jersey for the remainder of
the game, plucking the ball out of the air in a confident
manner.
Although the visitors smelt blood due to Miller's misfortune,
Craig Senior soon scored a second latching
on to a vicious shot by Steven Land, the hapless keeper
unable to deal with such a tremendous shot.
Miller's second goal proved to be crucial when Town scored
a consolation 10 minutes from time.
The home side dug deep to claim the points witnessed in
front of the biggest home gate of the season of 214.
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Skipper Jamie Lester maneuvers through
Town's players
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Blackburn blasts ball goalward
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Blackburn wins hearder
Saturday
26th March
New Mills Reserves 9 - Bacup Reserves 2
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Done penalty beats Bacup keeper |
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Chris Phieffer controls ball |
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Done up for high cross
Tuesday
22nd March
Classy Millers Too Good For Chaddy: Chadderton 0 -
New Mills 3
New Mills run of good form continued on Tuesday
night with a fine display to take three more points and
ease them up into joint 7th position in the Moore and Co.
Solicitor’s North West Counties Second Division Table.
The Millers attacked straight from the kick off, and had
a couple of half chances before they finally took the lead.
The ball was played into the box and Simon Ignotus sent
in a header, which was blocked off the goal line. The ball
came out to Ray Hobdey whose cross was spectacularly volleyed
into the net by Craig Hall.
There were several chances to increase the lead before
half time, including Craig Senior dispossessing the home
keeper but being unlucky when trying to convert. It was
about this time when Chadderton had their best spell, but
the Millers defence held firm and goalkeeper Adam Hughes
was not seriously tested.
The second goal came on 53 minutes and what a fine goal
it was. Adam Blackburn who sent over a pinpoint cross to
Senior at the far post and he hit a superb
volley, which flew into the net.
With around twenty minutes to go the third goal came through
Hall when he ran through to lob the advancing
custodian and to ensure the points. From then until the
final whistle all the Millers players were in on the act
of trying to add to their score.
This was the best attacking display the Millers have produced
over ninety minutes away from home. The midfield was magnificent
in winning almost every ball and the defence were a really
solid unit. In summing up it was a genuine classy performance.
The improvement in this young side is there for everyone
to see. They will now hope to continue the run when they
entertain Cheadle Town on Easter Monday.
The second team, who were without several key players,
went down to a solitary goal at Flixton in the RD Trophy.
They still have no less than eleven more games to play in
this competition, and will be aiming to finish in the top
four so that they can enter the semi-finals.
Saturday
19th March
Millers Stalemate: New Mills AFC 0 - Norton United
0
The run of three successive
home wins came to an end for New Mills on Saturday,
in a game, which literally could have gone either
way.
The home side attacked straight from the kick off,
and had a couple of near misses the best of which
just went the wrong side of the post from Craig Senior.
Gradually United settled into the game and began
to pose some problems of their own. However, there
were no clear-cut chances in the remainder of the
first half when both defences were clearly on top.
The second period saw the Staffordshire side |
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begin to push forward, and the Millers were forced into some
dogged defending, but when they did break they looked dangerous.
The star for the Derbyshire outfit was undoubtedly young goalkeeper
Adam Hughes who stepped in when regular custodian Steve Lyons
once again had a reoccurrence of his niggling thigh injury.
Hughes made some crucial stops particularly when he was in
one on one situations.
However, as the game moved to its conclusion
the Millers created two great chances, which could
have sealed the points.
Firstly, Craig Hall had an opening on the six-yard
line but he hesitated and was dispossessed. Then deep
into added on time substitute Adam Blackburn fired
in a free kick from outside the area. The Norton goalkeeper
Jason Coventry took off and made a majestic one handed
save to keep the ball out of the top right corner
of his goal. The save drew rapturous applause from
the crowd of 177 spectators who soaked up the warm
spring sunshine.
In the end a draw was probably the right result.
Norton United are a big strong side who play |
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good football. They have had a terrific run in the league
after a shaky start, and if they can add a striker to their
outfit will surely be promotion candidates next season.
This is another useful point from the young Millers side,
and a game, which before Christmas they would probably have
lost – such is their improvement.
Millers: Hughes, Land, Ignotus, Lester J, Radford R, Lochrie,
Hunter, Hobdey, Senior, Wild, Hall subs Lugsden, Bell, Blackburn.
The First Team are away to Chadderton on Tuesday evening,
and have no game this coming Saturday. They will be at home
on Easter Monday with a local derby game against Cheadle
Town - kick off at 3pm. The Reserves are at home though
on Saturday when they entertain Bacup Borough with the usual
3pm kick off.
Saturday
12th March
Millers Fightback Stuns Winsford: New Mills AFC 3
- Winsford Utd 2
A thrilling comeback from New Mills on Saturday
when they looked to be down and out brought them another
three points and at the same time severely dented the promotion
prospects of Winsford United.
The visitors, currently lying in second position in the league
table, had beaten the Millers at the Barton Stadium by a solitary
goal some three weeks before. The game started brightly with
the Millers creating a couple of good chances themselves.
Then on twenty minutes, for the second
consecutive Saturday the game was stopped
at Church Lane. This time it was another visiting
player Neil Harrison who suffered what looked like
a double break on and around his ankle. The referee
took the players off the field and by the time he
was attended to by the ambulance men - and taken to
Stepping Hill Hospital - some 30 minutes had elapsed.
Almost immediately that play resumed, United went
ahead through a goal by Chris Hutchinson. The home
side barely had time to recover when Lee Hughes doubled
the advantage. The home side rallied and just on half
time Craig Hall (seen right)
pulled one back from close range to give New Mills
hope.
The second half was an even affair with both teams
creating chances, and missing them. Steve Lyons was
back in the home goal after missing the last three
games through injury and he made a couple of good
stops. |
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With the game moving towards the last ten minutes, Craig
Senior notched his 10th goal of the season to bring
the teams level, when he neatly finished off a good move.
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Craig
Senior watches his shot beat the keeper for Millers'
2nd goal |
With just five minutes remaining the
winning goal came, when Ray Hobdey played a fine ball
to Craig Hall on the left hand side. Hall,
looked around but there was little support. He went
past one defender and as he approached the edge of
the penalty area he dribbled around another, before
unleashing a tremendous shot, which flew past the
Winsford custodian and into the net.
There was still time for each team to miss further
opportunities, but in the end the Millers held out
to record a third consecutive home win.
This was a good all round team effort, and the result
has lifted them to just above half way in the league
table. If they can continue this kind of form, they
may climb even higher. Once again there was a healthy
attendance of 137 |
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Winsford keeper beats Craig
Senior to high ball |
fans at Church Lane, who witnessed a thoroughly entertaining
game of football.
On Saturday the first team are again at home, with a visit
from Staffordshire outfit Norton United. Then next Tuesday
they will make the short journey up to Oldham to play at
Chadderton.
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High ball beats Winsford keeper as Ignotus
pounces
Saturday
5th March
Hunter Leads Millers To Victory: New Mills AFC 2
- Flixton 1
New Mills recorded their second consecutive home
win on Saturday, and a great display of forward running
by Gavin Hunter inspired them to do it. The Millers
attacked downhill from the start, and created at least three
great chances in the opening ten minutes. Sadly, these were
all spurned and the fans were no doubt thinking that they
would pay for being so charitable, and they were right.
The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute, when a
corner was not cleared the ball was knocked back in by Hancock
- it seemed to deceive home debutant goalkeeper Adam Hughes
and floated into the net. This certainly rocked the Millers
and they struggled to make any inroads into the Flixton
defence.
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Millers keeper Adan Hughes under
pressure |
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Battle for possession |
Then on 40 minutes the Flixton forward Anthony Hargreaves
flung himself for a diving header in the penalty area, but
he was accidently kicked full in the face by a Millers defender.
The player lay motionless on the grass, and it was obvious
that he had suffered a very serious injury. The first aid
attendant on duty at the ground rushed on to the field immediately
and summoned an ambulance. After being put on a stretcher
and put in the ambulance, he was rushed off to Stepping
Hill Hospital. The player was clearly still in a concussed
state. It was indicated that he would spend the weekend
in hospital and we hope he makes a speedy recovery, and
is soon able to add to the 19 goals he has already scored
this season.
The players had been taken
off for 25 minutes by the referee, and the remaining
five minutes were then duly completed. The start of
the second half was a little subdued, until Hunter
began to run at the opposing defenders. He served
notice of intent when he was fouled while surging
through. The resulting free-kick came to nothing.
Then on 63 minutes he repeated the feat, although
this time when he was felled he was inside the penalty
area. The New Mills centre forward Craig Senior
duly despatched the spot kick.
The winning goal came on 71 minutes, when Hunter
once again burst through. His cross |
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was turned into his own goal by a Flixton central defender.
The Millers had two further good opportunities both of which
fell to Craig Hall.
The last ten minutes proved to be a bit nerve racking,
with the Manchester side pushing forward in search of the
leveller. There was some good defending, a great save by
Hughes and the width of the post, which denied them a share
of the spoils.
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Flixton keeper |
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Craig Hall |
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Jamie Lester |
Overall this was another good result for New Mills, in
front of another excellent gate of 143, despite the driving
hail and sleet. The game was spoiled a little by the serious
injury, but with plenty of home games left in the current
campaign the men in black and amber will be hoping to get
back into the top half of the table. They are currently
lying 11th with games in hand.
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Flixton attack covered by three Millers
On Tuesday evening the First Team make the
short trip to Oldham Town, but will be without the inspirational
Hunter who is suspended for seven days. On Saturday they
are again at home this time to the second placed club Winsford
United.
The Second Team went down
1-3 at Skelmersdale on Saturday. The Millers goal was turned
into the net by a “Skem” defender after Dean
Morgan shot at goal. In the fourth minute of that game Paul
Fox suffered a nasty injuty, which looks like being confirmed
as a broken leg. The game was also held up for 30 minutes
until an ambulance came and took him to the local infirmary.
Everyone at the club wishes him well and hopes he makes
a good speedy recovery.
Saturday
2nd March
Norton 2 - New Mills AFC 1
Bomber Blackburn put Millers one nil up with a header
from a corner and they went in 1 up at half time. In the
second half Millers conceeded early on. It remained 1-1
until the referee decided to play about five minutes of
injury time, and Norton scored in the 94th minute.
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