.gif) Monday 19th February
New Mills AFC 2 - Leek CSOB 2
Honours even at a rainy Church Lane, Stuart McGill latched onto a weak back pass to open Miller's account then Carlos Meakin drilled the ball home to give New Mills a two goal lead by half time.
Leek came out determined and scored on 48 mins then added another to share the spoils.
A tough game against some big, sturdy players, a draw was just about fair, although Adam Blackburn hit the crossbar and both Meakin and Mickey Ryan also saw efforts miss by a narrow margin.
Saturday 17th February
Bomber Bashes Gabriels: Castleton Gabriels 0 - New Mills 4
New Mills prepared for their forthcoming semi final clash with Winsford United in fine style with an emphatic win at Rochdale. The score did not reflect the sheer dominant display from the Millers – particularly in the second half.
It took just six minutes for them to open the scoring when Adam Blackburn – in for the injured Rob Jordan – turned the ball in from close range. There were further great chances created in an amazing half hour when Blackburn, Meakin and Ward all missed the target. In between the home side hit the post twice, one of which was the result of a fine save from Joe Boyle.
The second half was a marvellous display of open attacking quality football from New Mills. The Gabriel’s defenders were working franticly to defend their lines with an unbelievable amount of last-ditch tackles and blocks. |
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However, the lead was doubled on 75 minutes when substitute Stuart McGill turned the ball home with a deft header when Mike Ryan headed the ball across to him.
Superb goal from Stuart McGill
Just five minutes later and Blackburn was given the ball by new boy Myers and he used his upper body strength to hold off a challenge before drilling the ball into the bottom corner. The scoring was completed in stoppage time when speedy McGill burst through and rounded the keeper to slot home.
Stuart McGill attacks
This was another terrific display from New Mills who are unbeaten since mid November. Adam Blackburn led the line well and was unlucky not to have recorded a hat trick.
The Millers were due to play Leek CSOB on Monday evening and they will be hoping to take this kind of form into the semi final clash with highflying Winsford United on Saturday at Church Lane. The club are naturally hoping for their biggest gate of the season so far and with United having lost just one league game so far and clear at the top it has all the makings of a classic cup-tie. The Millers have met United twice so far at home since they entered this league and have won both encounters.
New player Mike Myers in action
NEW MILLS; Boyle, Bromley, Walsh, Dempsey, Davis, Lees, Ward, Ryan, Blackburn, Meakin, Mather subs; McGill, Myers, Persechino.
Saturday 3rd February
Millers Through to Semi-Final: New Mills 3 - Holker Old Boys 1
New Mills swept into the semi-final of the second division trophy on Saturday after beating the Old Boys from Holker in Barrow. It means that the Millers will play table-topping Winsford United or Ashton Town in a two-legged semi final with the first leg at Church Lane on February 24th and the return leg away seven days later. (Winsford v Ashton Town game was abandoned at half time because of fog.).
This is a real milestone as it is the first time the club have been in a semi final of a competition since they returned to semi-professional football three years ago.
Although the performance was by no means one of their best of the season, it was still a much-deserved victory. The individual performance of Carlos Meakin had the Church Lane fans engrossed for much of the game. It was Meakin who rose majestically from a Mike Ward corner to head them in front after 12 minutes.
Carlos Meakin heads in Millers 1st goal
There were further chances created and it was just two minutes before the interval that the lead was doubled. After a real scramble in the visitors' penalty area from a superb run and cross from Adam Mather. leading scorer Rob Jordan (seen at right) was there to prod the ball home.
Within a minute from the restart Mike Ryan hit the post and it looked as though the home side might run away with the match. However, a red card was shown to one of the Cumbrians on 50 minutes for dissent and within two minutes they had reduced the arrears thanks to a goal from Keenan. |
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Mike Ryan heads goalwards
Any thoughts of a comeback were dashed on 65 minutes when that man Meakin added to his score with an exquisite chip from outside the penalty area over advancing Old Boys keeper Ben Morsby. It really was a goal of great quality.
The game, although won, was still end-to-end and Holker hit the woodwork for the second time in the match. Further chances came the home side's way but were not taken. In the end the result was a fair reflection on the game itself.
In the other semi final Oldham Town will meet Bootle.
Two #8's Mike Ryan and Glen Capstick go for the cross
Next Saturday New Mills will travel to Ashton Town and hopefully keep their unbeaten run going.
The second team have also had a great run of unbeaten form, as they have not lost since November 8th. On Saturday they kept themselves very much in the hunt for league honours thanks to a 1-0 win at Flixton. Skipper Stacey Wild scoring.
This weekend the Reserves will entertain Ashton Town Reserves at Church Lane. |
