New Mills slipped to their first home defeat since Tony Hancock and Paul Kirkham took over the managerial reigns, and they could have few complaints about the result. The game started well enough for the home side, and they went ahead on 15 minutes when a Scott Dignan free kick was held up by the very strong wind and then somehow dropped behind goalkeeper Billy Carrington to open the scoring. This was Dignan’s 5th goal of the current campaign.

The visitors came storming back and an equaliser was denied by first the woodwork and then by an outstanding save by Joe Boyle. The Lancashire side were not to be denied and leading scorer Paul Barrett headed in a corner from the left hand side.

It was Boyle who kept the Millers in the game with yet another fine save, but he was finally beaten on 51 minutes when John Harrison ran through to coolly slot the ball home.

New Mills tried in vain to get back on level terms and their best chance came deep in stoppage time when substitute Vinnie Braine poked the ball wide from about eight yards out.

All in all this was an average performance from the Church Lane outfit against a side who are on a good run having won at FC United just a few weeks ago. Manager Tony Hancock must pick them up as they are away on Saturday to Great Harwood. New Mills recorded a one goal win over them last month and there is a prospect of a “double”.

NEW MILLS; Boyle, Horrocks, Ignotus, Philips, Dignan, Pavey, Johnson, Wild, Adjet, Morrison D, Morrison M. Subs; Braine, Sidebottom, Mather.

There is no game on Church Lane, as the Reserves have no match. Last weekend they earned a 1-1 draw at Nelson with Jason Clarke scoring. They are now unbeaten in five games.

Scott Dignan's high free kick beats Billy Carrington

Millers' Wale Adjet and Nelson's Duncan Bennet challenge for high ball

Millers players converge on loose ball

Millers' Adam Mather tackles Nelson's Robbie Smith

New Mills had to be content with a point when they entertained Blackpool Mechanics at Church Lane. The visitors were placed in 5th position in the league table, and the Millers had lost on the Fylde Coast just four weeks previously, so this was always going to be a difficult fixture.

Up stepped Scott Dignan to coolly place the ball away to the keepers right and into the bottom corner. Suddenly New Mills began to press in earnest for the winning goal, however a breakaway from the Seasiders should have produced a goal for them, but for the timely intervention of Dignan who raced back to clear off his goal line. Just three minutes later and only the width of the goal post prevented New Mills from going behind. The last ten minutes saw the home side step up the pressure, but despite creating a number of chances which were not taken, the game, ended in a draw – probably the fairest result on the day.

Wale Adjet shoots

This was another encouraging performance by Tony Hancock’s men, who travel to second place Winsford United on Wednesday evening. They will again be at home next Saturday when they entertain Darwen.

New Mills: Boyle, Sidebottom, Ignotus, Philips, Dignan, Pavey, Morrison D, Johnson, Adjet, Williams, Morrison M subs; Wild, Walsh, Mather.

The New Mills Reserve side extended their unbeaten run with a fine 2-0 win at Darwen. Their goals came via Chris Prodromis and skipper Ray Hobdey.

New Mills got back on the winning trail on Saturday with a home win against the in-form side of the League. Great Harwood were unbeaten in their last ten games and the way they started on Saturday one could be forgiven in thinking that they would remain so at the end of ninety minutes.

The first half was pretty much a stalemate with both defences cancelling each other’s forwards out. The visitors were knocking the ball around with some style, but the Millers back four and new goalkeeper Joe Boyle were rarely troubled.

With just two minutes of the half remaining the referee – who had a strange game to say the least – penalised Simon Ignotus for a push when a long throw in came into the penalty area. It was an astonishing decision, which bemused the Town players as much as everyone else in the ground. Leading scorer John Eastham stepped up and hit the ball to Boyle’s right hand side, but the young custodian threw himself across and smothered the ball. It was a fine save on what was a confident debut.

Joe Boyle saves penalty

This seemed to rally the Millers players and certainly their supporters, with the home side soon making serious goal chances in the second half. The first of these saw Lee Wakefield making a surge through the middle and play the ball through for Stacey Wild. His delicate chip just went over the crossbar.

This then set the tone for some great attacking play from the men in black and amber. Vinnie Braine hit what seemed to be a great goal on the hour, but, Great Harwood goalkeeper Bobby Harris made a breathtaking save and tipped the ball over for a corner.

The winning goal just three minutes later was another controversial decision by the referee who was taking names almost by the minute in a game which there was not a serious foul committed. He awarded a penalty for a trip just inside the penalty area. Lee Wakefield stepped up and hit the ball low to the left hand side of Harris who had flung himself in the opposite direction.

Bobby Harris beaten by Lee Wakefield's penalty

Scarcely had the cheering died down when Wakefield hit a great shot onto the underside of the bar with the ball bouncing down and was then cleared. When the final whistle was blown the players were once again warmly applauded off the field.

This was a good result for New Mills against a side, which have every chance of gaining promotion. The attendance was 174. New Mills: Boyle, Sidebottom, Morrison M, Philips, Jackson, Ignotus, Morrison D, Pavey, Wakefield, Braine, Wild. subs; Dignan, Adjet, Mather.

This Saturday New Mills are again at home when Blackpool Mechanics visit Church Lane. They visited the Fylde Coast club some three weeks ago and lost 2-0, so they will be looking to make amends.

Melvin Morrison clears off line

Great Harwood keeper Bobby Harris and #8 Ryan Fisher defend Millers corner