The game started brightly for the Millers and Kaleem Ahmed volleyed just over after only two minutes. There seemed little to choose between the two sides until the 25th minute when Sean Whitehead burst through on the right-hand side and unleashed a stunning shot from 25 yards, which flew past Steven Lyons in the New Mills goal and into the top corner of the net.

The goal brought applause from both sets of fans, and just four minutes later the lead was doubled when another good movement of passing down the right resulted in a superb cross to the far post where Wes Bancroft had the simple task of nodding home.

After the break the home side probably just edged it, but no clear-cut chances were made. City could have gone three up but for the width of the upright. In the end a two-goal margin was just about right.

The crowd of 206 was the second biggest of the day, and they will be hoping for better

Millers Prepare for the FA Cup

New Mills will play their first game back in the most famous football competition in the world – the FA Cup – when they entertain Salford City at Church Lane on Saturday.

After an absence of some 23 years the club is full of expectation that they may be able to pull of one of the shocks of the round.

However, they will have to improve dramatically on their poor performancelast Saturday, when they were soundly beaten at home to Ashton Town.

After recording their biggest win since moving back to the North West Counties League, winning 5-0 at Castleton Gabriels in mid-week, the Millers were in the hunt for more points, but they never looked likely after their Lancashire opponents went ahead after 5 minutes through Caine.

The lead was doubled on 37 minutes when Turner scored via the penalty spot. Turner completed the scoring on 57 minutes, and the crowd of 124 were thankful that it was no more.

They began the game against Holker Old Boys from Barrow in good style, and went close in the opening minutes. The visitor’s rarely threatened, except on one occasion when a free kick was awarded against them on the right hand side. The ball was swung into the penalty area and keeper Stephen Lyons brilliantly turned a fierce shot onto the crossbar.

Just when it looked as though the first period would end goalless, Mike Ward swung over a high cross, which left the opposing goalkeeper, stranded and in came Gavin Hunter to firmly nod the ball into the net to send the Millers in one up at the interval. The time of the goal was 43 minutes.

The home supporters who had braved the atrocious elements were no doubt thinking that New Mills would go on to win the game with some ease, but on 55 minutes the opposing forward Rob Bruce got tangled up with Steven Land. It appeared that the Cumbrian forward was clearly being over aggressive. The Millers keeper Lyons sprinted out from his goal area and dragged off the player. The match referee immediately issued Bruce with a second yellow card and after deliberation with his linesman sent off the home custodian. Thus both sides were reduced to 10 men for the remaining half hour.

The New Mills management sent on Danny Jackson and he put on the goalkeepers jersey. Holker who had been awarded the free kick made the Millers defence pay dearly when full-back Higginson drove the ball through a hole in the wall and into the net.

Without a regular keeper one might have thought that the visitor’s would pile forward in search of the winning goal, but it was the home side that gradually began to get back on top. Indeed, they had a number of corners, but just could not make them pay. One effort was cleared off the line by a defender and the goalkeeper Paul Hewson made some fine saves, particularly low down from Ward. Perhaps the best chance fell to Ignotus who

New Mills completed their pre season build up unbeaten with a fine win against Northern Counties First Division outfit Hallam at Church Lane on Saturday.

The Millers were twice in front in the first period thanks to a thumping near-post header from Mark Ward and an exquisite lob over the advancing goalkeeper by Gavin Hunter.

The Yorkshire side levelled twice but the deciding goal came via the penalty spot when Gavin Hunter was dragged down and up stepped Scott Dignan to fire home.

There has been an influx of players – mainly local – and the club are optimistic about the forthcoming campaign. However, Scott Moore and Malcom Boswell the management duo are quick to remind everyone that there is a difference between friendlies and the start of the league campaign.