Saturday 29th April Classy Millers Finish off in Style: New Mills 3 - Castleton Gabriels 1 Following another win at Chadderton last Tuesday evening with a 2-1 victory courtesy of two goals from Mike Ryan, New Mills continued their recent good form at Church Lane on Saturday, to make it three wins on the trot against lowly Castleton. For a while though it seemed that there might be an upset on the cards as the home side struggled to get any real momentum going. The visitors seemed content to get men behind the ball in numbers and generally stifle the strong New Mills midfield. This certainly worked as there were constant breaks in play and the passing of the men in black and amber was poor. There was clear frustration when with 39 minutes gone the Castleton goalkeeper Mark Canning kicked a ball up-field and the bounce along with some indecision in the home defence allowed Micky Bartholomew to open the scoring.

Stuart Cole takes free kick

Fortunately, the half-time came shortly afterwards and Millers boss Tony Hancock could lift his troops. It took ten minutes though in the second period before New Mills began to expose the worst defence in the league. From a corner on the right hand side Persechino beyond the far post nodded the ball back into the six-yard area where substitute Damien Morrison drilled home a well-taken volley. This goal completely changed the game. Within a minute Braine should have added a second in an easy miss. Fortunately Jimmy Persechino capitalised on a goalkeeping error to prod home the second goal just two minutes later.

From then until the 90th minute the home side seemed to be holding a contest for the miss of the season, because they completely wasted another four easy opportunities as well as several good half chances.

Jimmy Persechino - scorer of Millers 2nd goal

Adam Mather under pressure from Lee Spratt

The third goal came deep into stoppage time when a brilliantly organised free kick orchestrated by Martin McDonald led to Adam Mather firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net. A truly wonderful goal to round off the season. So New Mills finished off with a hat trick of wins, and they are now beginning to show the fans some real quality football. What a pity that the season is just ending. However, if they can find a striker or two to convert the chances they have been creating virtually all season, then they must be considered as promotion candidates next season.

Mike Ward defends incoming ball

This is a great bunch of players – many of them are still only very young, but there is quality experience also in Martin McDonald and Mike Ryan. The biggest league gate of the season at Church Lane must be looking forward to August with some real optimism.

Millers defend Gabriels free kick

New Mills; Boyle, Sidebottom, Jackson, Dignan, Cole, Ward, Persechino, McDonald, Hancock, Morris, Mather subs; Braine, D Morrison, Buttrell.

There is still plenty of soccer to be played by New Mills Reserves. They have home games on Wednesday and Thursday evening, Saturday afternoon and they finish off on Monday night. They have had a good season and are currently experiencing a good run like the first team.

Jason Clarke opened his account ten minutes in then Stacey Wild added another courtesy of Callum Clarke's quickly taken free kick. Jason Clarke scored a second moments later, Millers second string entering the dressing rooms with a commanding lead.

Clarke completed his hat-trick on the hour and Wild scored his second but his third was to remain elusive despite a host of chances. Mike Grindy did find the back of the net following good work from Callum Burns on the right wing. Atherton battled well throughout and never gave up the chase, M.O.T.M. was possibly Callum Clarke although nobody had a bad game.
(Amber)

Chris Prodomis and Jason Clark

Kelvin Lugsden heads clear

Saturday 22nd April
Millers Stun Winsford: New Mills 2 - Winsford United 1

New Mills produced their best result of the entire season on Saturday when they beat red-hot promotion favourites Winsford United at Church Lane.

There was a touch of irony as just twelve months ago United lost out on promotion by a single point when they threw away a two goal lead at the same venue to lose by a 3-2 score. It could well be that the same thing has happened again.

The visitors then began to launch high long balls into the opposing half of the field in their desperation to get on level terms, but on the whole the defence stood firm.

Amazingly the referee added on another 11 minutes of extra time for stoppages, but during this period it was the home side that were in possession and they should have added a third when Braine fired over from close range.

Overall this was a great performance for a New Mills side who are now beginning to blossom into a really good attractive footballing side. In particular Adam Mather – a very talented teenager – who was a constant threat all afternoon on the left hand side.

Damien Morrison slips ball past Dave Chambers

Vinnie Braine turns the ball round Dave Chambers

Mike Ward wins the ball from Winsfords Chris Hutchinson backed up by Scott Dignan and Stuart Cole

Lee Morris on the attack

Tony Hancock shields the ball from Jamie Williams

There is only one more first team game left to play and that is on Saturday when they finish off the season at home to Castleton Gabriels. However, the Reserve side still have SEVEN more home games to fit in before the end of the campaign. They are at home on Friday evening to Padiham - the game kicks off at 7.45. They will also be at home on Bank Holiday Monday when Blackpool Mechanics visit Church Lane for a 3 pm kick off.

The Reserves are currently having their best run of the season and a 3-3 draw at Nantwich town last Thursday means that they have lost only one of their last 12 games.

The Easter programme of matches turned out to be a frustrating time for the followers of New Mills Football Club. On the Saturday they travelled to Ashton Town for their penultimate away fixture this season and went down to a solitary strike from Mike Bennett.

The game itself seemed to be heading for a stalemate with neither side creating many chances. Indeed, it was a mistake in midfield from New Mills which allowed Bennett to surge forward and unleash an unstoppable shot past Boyle to settle the points.

The best chance for the visitors to level came when a free kick played into the penalty area found McDonald who had a free header which he guided wide of the target.

Onto the Holiday Monday game at Church Lane where near neighbours Cheadle Town were the visitors.

This was probably the best display that New Mills had given since the arrival of Tony Hancock and Paul Kirkham for the home fans to witness, and they created enough clear-cut chances to have scored double figures. However, as has been the case all season the forwards could not convert them. It was Boyle who kept the score level in the first twenty minutes with an outstanding save, and this was followed by Jimmy Persechino then unbelievably knocking the ball over from six yards out with the goal at his mercy. On 35 minutes Braine (seen right) had a similar chance and he likewise cleared the crossbar. Finally, as the game moved into stoppage time a free kick from Mike Ryan was partially blocked and Persechino tapped home to give New Mills a deserved half time lead.

Town's keeper under pressure as Jimmy Persechino in white pounces to score Millers' goal

Overall New Mills look solid at the moment, but the manager is all to aware that if he can find a striker to convert these chances then he has a squad capable of mounting a serious challenge next season.

Stuart Cole chases after Town's striker

Mike Ward clears to Phil Woodbridge

New Mills; Boyle, Woodbridge, Cole, Dignan, Jackson, Ward, Persechino, Ryan, Braine, Mather subs; D Morrison, Bottrell, Sidebottom.

On Saturday the first team are again at home to Winsford who are red-hot favourites to join FC United of Manchester in the top flight next year and on Tuesday 25th they play their last away game of the season at Chadderton. Also on the same day reserves are at home to Atherton LR

Saturday 15th April
New Mills Res 0 - Squires Gate 1

Danny Thomas challenges for high ball

Kelvin Lugsden challenges

Ben Candlin plucks ball to safety

Stephen Littler clears ball

Saturday 8th April
Classy Millers Edge Out Oldham: Oldham Town 1 - New Mills 4

New Mills took all three points on Saturday with a superb second half display at the Whitebank Stadium to secure an emphatic victory.

The game was in real doubt before the kick off with water covering several parts of the playing surface. The referee decreed that it was playable, much to the relief of the Millers supporters who made up for three quarters of the attendance. The heavy showers continued to fall throughout the first half when the visitors took the game to Town, and should have scored when Braine and Morris had opportunities.

It was completely against the run of play when Darren Scanlan opened the scoring on the half hour when he lobbed Joe Boyle from well outside the penalty area. The ball helped with the strong wind flew high over the young goalkeeper and into the net. It was a fine opportunist goal from Scanlan, and it was his 23rd of the season in all competitions.

This goal was a set back for the Millers who must have wondered if this was going to be another day of missed chances that they would later regret.

However, they were level a couple of minutes after the break when Lee Morris opened his account for the club when he too looked up some 25 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable drive which flew into the top corner of the net.

On the hour and New Mills went in front when Morris had his shot blocked by the Oldham goalkeeper and captain David Carnell, and Adam Mather was on hand to stroke the ball home.

The Millers forwards then began to swarm all over their opponents and further goals were inevitable. Their third goal was a headed effort from close range by Vinnie Braine, and the same player completed the scoring three minutes from the end when a fine piece of individualism ended with him smashing the ball into the corner of the net to make him the leading scorer for the side this season.

This was a fine performance from New Mills, and thoroughly deserved. Boyle had little to do all afternoon as the defence were well marshalled. In midfield McDonald completely ran the show and the forwards were always lively.

New Mills are home to Norton United on Wednesday evening and on Saturday they will travel to Ashton Town. They will be hoping to continue their recent run of good form in which they have only lost one of their last five matches – and that was against the runaway league leaders FC United of Manchester.

 The Reserve team will be at home on Saturday when they entertain Squire’s Gate.