.gif) Saturday 28th October
Vinnie Double Delight For Millers: New Mills 3 - Blackpool Mechanics 1
New Mills moved into the quarter finals of the Second Division Trophy with a display of vintage finishing by popular forward Vinnie Braine at Church Lane on Saturday, but it could have all been a different story.
As soon as the match started the home side penned their opponents back inside their own half and soon the chances began to materialise. There were several created notably for Rob Jordan and Mike Ward, but neither could be capitalised upon.
The half-time whistle blew and the Millers must have felt more than a little frustrated as their excellent play should have been worth at least a goal advantage. However, they fell for a real sucker punch when straight from the kick off the Mechanics moved the ball out to Beau Flood and he raced down the left and fired the ball past Boyle from a difficult angle.
The goal clearly stung the home team and they began to pile on the pressure. It looked as though the game would be all square when Stuart McGill raced towards the goal and instead of squaring for the unmarked Braine instead chose to have a shot himself, but the ball nestled into the side netting.
 The game was well into added on time when the ball was crossed into the Blackpool penalty area. The goalkeeper Ryan Yeomans elected to punch, which he did. The ball was driven back into the six yard area where Braine brilliantly trapped it with a brilliant touch and turned to sweetly place it the corner out of the goalkeepers reach. It was a goal, which New Mills thoroughly deserved, and yet the dejection showed on the visitors faces as they realised that the extra thirty minutes would be very hard – how right they were!
Immediately New Mills began to surge forward and after ten minutes of the first period Adam Mather scored a well-taken goal to put his side in front.
Further chances began to emerge and it was no more than their play deserved when Braine was played through in the 115th minute. He burst into the penalty area and drove the ball into the corner of the goal with great aplomb. His celebration with the Millers fans at the clubhouse end summed up the atmosphere inside the ground.
Both teams were warmly applauded as they left the field. This was an excellent performance by New Mills, and they were mightily relieved to get the late goal, but they must start to take the chances, which they are making, to finish off the opposition.
A jubilant Vinnie Braine said after the game that he was enjoying his second spell with the Church Lane club, and well he might. He has scored in all his last four games and is now joint leading scorer with Stuart McGill and Rob Jordan.
After a run of six consecutive cup matches the club are back to league action on Saturday when Padiham visit Church Lane. New Mills have only played six league games up to now as they have had a very successful run in the cups. In the quarter finals of this trophy the Millers will travel to play at Daisy Hill where they will be hoping to keep up their excellent record there.
The Reserves came back well after bowing out of the Derbyshire Cup last week with a great 4-2 win at Blackpool Mechanics. They are now very handily placed in the table with plenty of games in hand.
Monday 23rd October
New Mills 2 - Matlock Town 3
New Mills led 2-0 with goals from Vinnie Braine three minutes in and Adam Mather three minutes into the second half. The Miller's also had an earlier goal disallowed (possibly for handball). However, the Unibond Premier side aren't 75 places above New Mills without good reason and they reduced the arrears on the hour through Ian Holmes. Parity ensued ten minutes later through former Aston Villa player; Gareth Williams and a fortunate winner was scored in the 89th minute when Steve Warne's shot deflected off a New Mills player into the goal.
A good first hour for the home side but the gap proved too strong throughout the 90.
Attendance was 266.
(Cribbed off Amber Army Forum) >>Matlock's view of the game.
Vinnie Braine's shot is palmed over the bar by Town's keeper Richard Siddall
Mike Ward heads the ball at goal
Saturday 21st October
Classy Millers Edge Out the Old Boys: Leek CSOB 1 - New Mills 2
New Mills progressed through to the next round of the League Challenge Cup on Saturday with a dominant display which was not reflected in the final score line. The game was a replay of the six-goal thriller, played at Church Lane a week before.
Almost straight from the kick off New Mills took control of the game and could have scored early on when Vinnie Braine burst through and had he passed to Mather he would have had an open goal to aim at. Unfortunately, the chance went begging.
Further opportunities began to come as Leek were pressed back and McGill had an excellent chance when he had only the goalkeeper to beat from an angle. Moments later and Jordan sent the ball crashing against the home team's crossbar.
Just when it looked as though the teams would go into the interval on level terms Rob Jordan fired the Millers ahead on 42 mins - no more than they deserved - and it was Jordan’s fifth goal of the season. |
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Rob
Jordan |
Adam
Mather |
Callum
Dempsey |
Mike
Ward |
Danny
Jackson |
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Rob Jordan blasts in Millers 1st goal
The second period was even more of a one-sided affair and it came as no surprise when a fine move down the right-hand side ended with Braine neatly tucking away his side's second goal on the hour and his second goal in two games.
The large following of Millers fans could perhaps be excused for thinking that they needed another goal after throwing away the lead the week before, and their team continued to press in search of it.
Acrobatic save from Joe Boyle
As the game moved into the 90th minute, Jackson was adjudged to have pushed in the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Up stepped Colin Fletcher to take it, but Joe Boyle guessed the right way and pulled off a splendid save. From the resulting corner kick Daniel Hyde headed the ball into the net for a consolation goal. This was a little harsh on New Mills, as the Old Boys had not looked like scoring at all.
Joe Boyle saves penalty
There was still time, however, for substitute Lee Morris to surge through and take the ball around goalkeeper Gavin Deaville who promptly felled him. A red card was given and the free kick was the last action of the game.
All in all a thoroughly professional job completed by the New Mills side. After the game manager Tony Hancock was full of praise for his team. “This side has an average age of just 21” he said, “ Their progress is really encouraging, and I am delighted with this win”
Jubilant Millers Cup Team
Next Saturday the Millers are again at home in another cup match. Blackpool Mechanics visit Church Lane in the Divisional Cup.
The Reserves made a disappointing start to their home campaign, when they were knocked out of the Derbyshire Divisional Cup 5-3 on penalties by Hope Valley League outfit Buxton Town. The game had ended 1-1.
Saturday 14th October
Good Value Miller's Earn Replay: New Mills 3 - Leek CSOB 3
New Mills were forced into extra time for the third match running but battled hard to earn a replay in the North West Counties League Challenge Cup.
The first half was fairly uneventful, Joe Boyle dealt with a tame effort 20 minutes in and Miller's Stuart McGill saw his effort deflected soon after.
The game came to life shortly after the break when a Scott Dignan free kick found Mike Ward who headed the ball into the bottom corner.
New Mills then extended the lead when Adam Blackburn was pushed to the ground while en-route to goal, Dignan dispatched the resulting penalty with a confident strike, the Millers two up and eager for more.
Mike Ward denied by James Hall
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Adam Blackburn gets away from Mark Fox
The turning point of the match came when Stuart McGill was dismissed for New Mills, possibly for dissent, and this spurred the visitors on to score twice in quick succession courtesy of Anthony Tarr and Andy Bloore.
Callum Dempsey was in magnificent form and looked to have saved New Mills by clearing off the line, but the resulting corner kick fell to the feet of Colin Fletcher who put the visitors in the driving seat. |
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The home side were not done by a long way, and Vinnie Braine burst through from the half way line to place the ball past the advancing keeper, a composed finish to ensure parity.
Vinnie Braine scores Millers 3rd goal
Although the visitors had the lion's share in extra time, the ten men came closest with Dignan and Ward challenging for the same ball during the 1st period and Dempsey's powerful header just over the bar after 120 minutes of play.
New Mills have become good value of late which is good for the spectators but there must be some tired legs around having played six hours of football this past week.
Team : Boyle, Lees M, Dignan, Dempsey, Jackson, Morrison Mather, McGill, Ward, Jordan, Blackburn
Subs: Walsh, Braine, Morris. Attendance 171 |
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James Hall stops Adam Mathers run on goal
The Derbyshire Senior Cup tie against Matlock Town was postponed for a second time as they have an FA Cup replay against Cambridge City to contest. New Mills Reserves will host Buxton Town on Saturday in the Divisional Competition, incidentally this will be the first home game of the season for Miller's second string who returned from Daisy Hill 4-0 victors with goals from Stacey Wild, Neil Benney and a brace from Kelvin Lugsden, kick off is at 3pm and all are welcome.
Saturday 7th October
Millers Cup Tie Thriller: New Mills 2 - Stratford Town 2
FA Vase 1st Round.
New Mills must go and win at Stratford in a Tuesday night replay if they are to progress further in this year's Vase competition.
In one of the best cup-ties seen on the Church Lane ground for many years the Millers came within three minutes of a memorable victory, only to be pegged back with an unfortunate stroke of bad luck.
This game always promised to be an exciting one, with the visitors having a real pedigree – they are still in the FA Cup for instance – and the home side knew that they would have to play well if they were going to get anything out of it…and this they certainly did.
The first half was a real fast and open game of football, with the ball moving quickly from one end of the pitch to the other. There were a lot of slick passing movements and it looked as though the sides would be level as the half-time cup of tea beckoned.
However, on 39 minutes Neil Kitchen turned smartly in the penalty area and rifled the ball past Boyle to put the Warwickshire side ahead.
New Mills came out for the second half determined to get back on level terms and they proceeded to send wave after wave of attacks towards their opponent’s goal.
Soon, the chances began to come and Vinnie Braine had a couple of excellent opportunities when a touch of composure would have seen him score. Stratford were always dangerous on the counter attack and the back four for New Mills had to be on their toes and they certainly were.
The corner count was also increasing for the Millers and it was from one of these on 85 minutes that central defender Danny Jackson rose and flicked the ball into the bottom corner of the net – Braine might well have got a touch – to put them on level terms. There was a huge cheer and a sigh of relief when the ball nestled into the net.
Sensing an opportunity to win the game in normal time New Mills surged forward, but the referee blew his whistle on time to send the game into an extra thirty minutes.
Even the prospect of watching England live at 5 o’clock did not tempt the Church Lane faithful to leave this game. |
Martin McDonald and Town's Michael
Stephenson rise for incoming high ball
Mark Lees tackled for incoming ball
Adam Mather avoids the challenge
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Lee Morris tries to turn for a shot on goal
The first period of extra time was pulsating with the home team threatening to score almost every time they crossed the half way line, but there was always the chance they may concede as well. Finally, with barely ten seconds of the half remaining they took the lead. A swift flowing move down the right hand side culminated with a pinpoint cross from Lee Morris and there was Craig Fleury to head it into the net.
Lee Morris swings the ball between two players
The last 15 minutes seemed as though the Millers may hold out. They had another couple of half chances, but after a brief stoppage for an injury, Stratford grabbed their lifeline.
A shot from Fouldes, which seemed to be destined for the safe hands of Joe Boyle took a wicked and cruel deflection and so sending the tie into the replay, which will mean a long trek down to Shakespeare Country on Tuesday.
All in all, this is a game which could have been beyond New Mills in the first half, but they did more than enough to have settled the game long before it went into the extra half hour. The crowd of 195 certainly got their money's worth.
Credit to both teams for a thoroughly entertaining game of football. This weekend New Mills are again at home when they will entertain Leek CSOB in the League Challenge Cup. |
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The Reserves, who did not play at the weekend, will be at home on Monday evening to Chadderton with a 7.45pm kick off. It will be their first home game of the current season.
Mike Ward heads clear
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