Saturday 29th March
Padiham 1 - New Mills 2 (Match abandoned after 50 minutes)

New Mills's game at Padiham on Saturday was abandoned just after half time after incessant heavy rain left the pitch unplayable.

Although rain was falling as the players took to the field at 3pm, the game started with The Arbories in reasonable condition and following their recent good run of form, The Millers started very strongly with Garry Kharas shooting narrowly wide in the third minute.

The Millers were controlling the game despite the increasing rainfall and midfielders Joe Shaw and Carlos Meakin had good opportunities to break the deadlock, but were denied on both occasions by good Padiham defending.

The Millers took the lead on the half hour when following a free kick on the left hand side, the ball fell to skipper Micky Ryan in the six yard box and he duly drove the ball into the bottom corner.
The visitors defied the conditions to double their lead eight minutes later with a goal which would have graced any occasion. Full back Matty Taylor made a powerful run down the right and his inch-perfect cross was met by Garry Kharas whose unstoppable header left the Padiham keeper helpless.

The home side brought themselves back into the game on the stroke of half time when a wonderful forty-yard strike sailed over Miller's keeper Stuart Williams into the top corner.
It was a surprise to see the players return after the interval and The Millers were forced to make a substitution with left winger Adam Morning breaking his nose after an accidental collision with team mate Kharas.

It soon became apparent that the conditions were worsening with the ball beginning to stop in the ever increasing amount of standing water and it came as no surprise when the referee abandoned the game.

Whilst disappointed not to complete the game, The Millers will take heart from their performance in the atrocious conditions and with none of their promotion rivals completing their games either, their lead at the top of League Division 2 remains at a very healthy sixteen points.

Team - Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Ryan, D Jackson, Shaw, Meakin, Knight, Mayers, Kharas, Morning ( S Jackson).Unused subs - George, Hooper, Zajac, Bromley

Monday 24th March
Leek CSOB 0 - New Mills 4

New Mills continued their recent good run of form with a patient victory at Harrison Park on Easter Monday. Leek started the game with their gameplan clear and a tackle from behind by skipper Daniel Hyde, which went unpunished by the referee, in the first few minutes saw left winger Adam Mather limp off with a nasty looking ankle injury. Shortly after, Hyde tested the referee’s patience once too often with another foul which saw him pick up a deserved caution. The Millers continued to make all the running but were frustrated by the home side’s defence and the uneven playing surface but their plight was assisted by the dismissal of Hyde who picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon, this time for a late tackle on midfielder Melford Knight.

Melford Knight beats the keeper and heads at goal

Shortly after, the visitors had the ball in the net when substitute Garry Kharas headed home but the officials blew up for an infringement on the home goalkeeper, who then ensured that his side reached the interval on level terms when he made an impressive point blank save from striker Kenny Mayers’s snapshot on the stroke of half time.

Kenny Mayers header disallowed - select pictures to see enlargement above

With the man advantage, The Millers made a strong start to the second half and once again, the keeper prevented both Kharas and Mayers opening the scoring with decent fingertip saves.

Thankfully, the visitor’s patience was rewarded just after the hour when Mayers beautifully volleyed home a cross from the right much to the delight of the travelling fans, who made up at least three quarters of the crowd.

Millers celebrate after Kenny Mayers breaks the deadlock

With the home side’s resistance finally broken, The Millers continued to press forward for the goal which would seal the contest and this came in slightly bizarre circumstances in the 77th minute, when Adam Morning swung over a corner and although it looked the ball had already evaded the keeper and crossed the goal line, Mayers bundled the ball in at the back post and was officially credited with the goal. With the three points safely in the bag, the icing on the cake came in the shape of two injury time goals – the first when Garry Kharas (seen left) neatly tucked in the rebound following another good save from the home keeper and then Kenny Mayers completed his hat trick following good work down the right from Adam Morning. This victory was a complete contrast to Saturday’s hammering of Holker with patience and good football ensuring the right result on the day.

Team – Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Ryan, D Jackson, Shaw ( Hooper ), Bromley ( Zajac ), Knight, Mayers, Morning, Mather ( Kharas ). Unused subs – George, S Jackson

Adam Morning's inswinging corner beats the keeper and into the net courtesy of Kenny Mayers

Matt Taylor on a blizzard of run

Saturday 22nd March
New Mills 9 - Holker OB 0

New Mills recorded their biggest North West Counties League victory with a nine goal demolition of Holker Old Boys at Church Lane on Saturday. In a game as one sided as the result suggests, The Millers turned on the style and dominated the game from start to finish. The rout started as early as the fifth minute when following a short corner, skipper Mike Ryan’s cross was headed in by leading scorer Carlos Meakin. The lead was almost immediately doubled when new signing Adam Morning, cut in from the left, jinked past a couple of defenders before firing low into the corner of the net to register his first goal for the club. The Millers scored from another corner in the 25th minute when striker Kenny Mayers rose unchallenged to bury a firm header past the Holker keeper.

Kenny Mayers slots in Millers goal #4

Two goals were added in first half stoppage time when firstly Mayers scored his second of the afternoon when he got in the way of clearance and fortuitously scored with what appeared to be his elbow and then left winger Adam Mather dribbled through the static Holker defence and rounded the keeper before slotting home the fifth goal.

The second half was only five minutes old when Meakin scored again, this time when he drilled the ball into the corner from just inside the penalty area.

Substitute Garry Kharas, returning after a back injury, scored the afternoon’s best goal when following good work from Lee Bromley, he headed in an inch perfect cross from fellow substitute Matty Taylor.

Two late goals rounded off proceedings when Meakin completed his third hat trick of the season and then Kharas added the ninth right on the final whistle.

The Millers, who have now scored twenty goals in the last three games without reply, increased their lead at the top of the table to a very healthy fifteen points.

Team – George, Bromley, Lomax, Ryan, Jackson, Shaw ( Hooper ), Meakin, Knight ( Taylor ), Mayers, Morning ( Kharas ), Mather. Unused subs – Williams, Zajac

Matt Taylor crosses the ball for Garry Kharas' 1st goal

Garry Kharas breaks free and beats the keeper to score his 2nd goal

Matt Taylor changes direction - mouseover

Hat trick hero Carlos Meakin swerves round the challenge - mouseover

Adam Mather shrugs off the challenge

Saturday 22nd March
Padiham Reserves 0 - Millers Reserves 0

Millers Reserves kept their sixth clean sheet in their last eight games away at Padiham , but were unable to find the opposition net for the first time since the opening day of the season. On a day when all four seasons were represented at the Arbories ground, very few chances fell to either side to claim the full three points.

It could have been so different if Danny Carter’s stinging left foot shot hadn’t rebounded to safety off the Padiham crossbar in the opening minute, but after that bright start neither side could create a clear-cut opportunity to trouble the scorer.

Millers kicked off up the Padiham slope, and a slick passing move between Aji Khan and Adam Blackburn created the opportunity for Danny Carter to rattle the woodwork. A minute later and Millers were awarded a free kick on the right touchline after Daniel Kitchen took an elbow in the nose and had to leave the field to stem the flow of blood, but Scott Dignan’s kick was easily cleared by the Padiham defence. Padiham had their first shot in anger in the fourth minute, but their right back fired his shot well wide.

Padiham looked the most threatening in the opening period but Chris Sibson made a few timely challenges to break up the Padiham attacks. Millers keeper Chris Fidler made a long clearance upfield in the tenth minute, which Padiham failed to clear with the ball eventually falling to Adam Blackburn on the edge of the box, but he fired his shot well wide.

The Padiham keeper was definitely the busier in the first half but the Millers forwards just couldn’t produce a telling shot to produce the opening goal. Jake Taylor created a chance for Adam Blackburn on 25 minutes but the keeper managed to hold at the second attempt. Blackburn headed over on the half hour from a Steve Jackson cross, and five minutes later Aji Khan and James Elmore combined to create a chance for Jake Taylor from a narrow angle but the keeper saved with his foot. A minute later and Blackburn fired a long-range effort straight at the keeper after doing well to intercept a cross-field pass from the Padiham left. Right on the stroke of half time Danny Carter fired just over from about the same place he had hit the bar earlier, and a minute later the Padiham keeper did well to palm away a fierce shot from Jake Taylor and the half finished as it had begun, goalless.

Neither side were able to create a clear goalscoring opportunity in the second half, both defences stood firm, and despite a lot of activity in midfield, the killer pass could not be found. When anything was directed goalward, either a mishit shot or a timely tackle or block made life easy for both keepers, and as the weather produced an assorted array of conditions to play in, from bright sunshine to light snow, the game petered out into an inevitable draw. Millers could have pinched the game right at the death. Awarded a free kick on the right touchline, Steve Jackson’s kick was half cleared to substitute Adam Brindle who chipped the ball back into the danger area with the outside of his right foot, but as Adam Blackburn tried to get a shot away he only managed to kick the advancing Padiham keeper who was out bravely to block any danger, and that as they say was that.

Millers Reserves return to Church Lane next Saturday 29th March, with a tough fixture against Oldham Town Reserves, the first time the two teams have met in the League this season. Millers will be looking to get back to the goalscoring habit that saw them beat Oldham away at the beginning of December in an exciting match that Millers edged by the odd goal in seven, to progress through to the next round of the Reserves Division Cup. So Millers Reserves have only four games left to complete their League season, with the Semi-final of the Reserves Division Cup still to be arranged. All support is much appreciated to try and finish the season in style.

Millers Team: Chris Fidler (GK), Stephen Land, Steven Jackson, Chris Sibson, Scott Dignan, James Elmore, Daniel Kitchen, Aji Khan, Jake Taylor, Adam Blackburn, Danny Carter.

Subs: Luke Smith (GK), David Silcock (60 mins. For D. Kitchen), Adam Brindle (65minutes for J. Elmore), Joe Ingham (75 minutes for S. Land), Stewart Kay.

Saturday 15th March
Kirkham and Wesham 0 - New Mills 4

Despite losing their last two away matches, leaders New Mills travelled to FA Vase semi finalists Kirkham and Wesham on Saturday for the top of the table clash in confident mood and this showed in a truly magnificent team display.

At a blustery Kellamergh Park, The Millers, who gave a debut to striker Adam Morning who had signed during the week from Unibond side Mossley FC, took a stranglehold of the game right from the opening whistle and very rarely allowed Kirkham into the game. The tone was set as early as the third minute when midfielder Carlos Meakin's powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area was only denied by the inside of the right hand post.

Kirkham's chances were few and far between but their best chance of the game came in the 20th minute, when this time the upright came to the visitors rescue, when striker Michael Horsfall hit the post when it seemed easier to score.

The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute when The Millers took a deserved lead. Following good link up play with Adam Mather, Carlos Meakin hammered the ball into the corner of Kirkham's net, much to the delight of the travelling army of fans, for his 23rd goal of a very productive season.

The game's major turning point came in the 35th minute when Kirkham's skipper Dougie Shaw failed to control the ball, allowing striker Kenny Mayers a clean run through on goal. Shaw pulled down Mayers on the edge of the penalty area and resultant red card was inevitable with him being the last defender.

New Mills continued to attack after the interval and doubled their lead in the 53rd minute when midfielder Melford Knight broke through and after his initial effort had been saved by Kirkham's Pete Summerfield, the rebound fell nicely to Knight who headed into an empty net.

Three minutes later, Knight effectively sealed the game with his second goal of the afternoon when again he made a forceful run from midfield and this time fired the ball confidently into the corner of the net past the shell-shocked keeper.

The third goal in an action-packed seven minutes and also The Millers 100th of the season in all competitions, arrived on the hour when Joe Shaw took a free kick from the left hand side and curled the ball into the net with the aid of a slight deflection.

Adam Mather nearly added a fifth when he fired a thirty yard thunderbolt inches past the post, substitute Matt Zajac had a good shot well saved by Summerfield, and Knight missed a chance to complete his hat trick when he missed his kick with the goal gaping, his only mistake of the afternoon.

Kirkham's Mike Clark and Sean Patterson both missed late chances for Kirkham, but a goal at that stage would have been harsh on The Millers defensive unit who were again marshalled superbly by skipper Mike Ryan and fellow centre half Danny Jackson.

New Mills therefore completed the league double over Kirkham this season and at the same time inflicted only their seventh defeat in all competitions in the last four seasons. Whilst difficult to single out a single player in a wonderful team performance, Melford Knight's two goals and overall contribution probably just shaded the man of the match.

The Millers now lead the league by thirteen points and have a very healthy goal difference and although teams below them have several games in hand, their continuing participation in various Cup competitions means they each face a congested final seven weeks of the season.

Team - Williams, Bromley, Lomax, Ryan, Jackson, Shaw, Meakin, Knight ( S Dignan ), Mayers ( Zajac ), Morning ( Ward ), Mather. Unused subs - George, Hooper

The Millers have two games over the Easter weekend. Holker Old Boys are the visitors to Church Lane on Saturday afternoon, 3pm kick off and then on Easter Monday, they travel to Leek CSOB, 3pm kick off. For those supporters travelling to Leek, please note that Leek CSOB share a ground with Leek Town.

Saturday 15th March
New Mills Reserves 3 - Kirkham & Wesham Reserves 3

Millers Reserves were left regretting the chances they missed to kill the game off in the first half, after Kirkham and Wesham Reserves came from behind in the second half to take a two goal lead, only for Millers to salvage a point with two late goals, as the game finished 3 – 3. Kirkham had their goalkeeper to thank to be only trailing by a single goal at half time after he made several excellent one on one saves, then right at the close of the game both keepers made outstanding saves as either side could have snatched victory and taken the three points.

Matt Kirkham manages to clear

Kirkham applied the early pressure in the opening minutes, but Adam Blackburn made a break down the left wing as Millers entered the Kirkham half for the first time, and his left foot cross floated in with the wind and the Kirkham keeper had to be alert to push the ball over his crossbar. Two minutes later and he was out sharply to block a shot as Blackburn was put through one on one only to fire his shot at the keeper as the goal beckoned.

The game flowed from end to end as both sides looked to make the early breakthrough, but some inconsistent refereeing at times spoilt an entertaining game. On twelve minutes, the Kirkham number 3 crudely took out Blackburn, but as the resulting free kick was cleared, Adam Brindle made a similar challenge just inside his own half and found himself booked!

Danny Carter ran Kirkham's defence ragged - mouseover

On twenty minutes Millers came closest to opening the scoring. Some excellent close ball control on the left touchline by Aji Khan was finished with a slide rule pass to Danny Carter whose cross found Blackburn unmarked on the penalty spot only for his shot to be blocked by a Kirkham defender. Two minutes later though and Millers did take the lead when Jake Taylor played a ball in to Aji Khan with the outside of his right foot, and Aji lashed the ball past a stationery Kirkham keeper from the edge of the box to take a 1 – 0 lead.

Four minutes later and Millers could have extended their lead when Blackburn was again put through one on one, but as he rounded the keeper he threw out a left hand and took the ball off Blackburn’s toe making another fine save. With ten minutes to half time another chance fell to Blackburn as a Kirkham clearance rebounded off his own defender, putting him through one and one again but a heavy first touch allowed the keeper time to come out and make another vital block. Two minutes later and it was the Millers keeper’s turn to be out sharply and push the ball away from the Kirkham number 10 as he looked to be through on goal, then just before the break he safely collected a Kirkham free kick that skipped up sharply off the ground just in front of him. Blackburn thought he had scored right on the stroke of half time when he was again put through clear on goal, the Kirkham linesman initially put his flag up for offside but then put it straight down, the referee waved play on, Blackburn duly hit the net with a good right foot shot, but then the referee bizarrely disallowed the goal for offside!

Steve Jackson solid on left wing

The second half started with Kirkham taking advantage of a strong wind at their backs and played a lot of long balls trying to pin New Mills deep in their own half. When they did manage to take the fight to Kirkham it was their keeper who again stood firm with some good blocks. Then on 73 minutes the game really kicked into life. The referee again made a dubious decision awarding Kirkham a free kick for a supposed push 25 yards out to the left of the area, the Kirkham player then hit a Ronaldoesque left footed free kick that first swerved right then a few yards from the Millers keeper suddenly swerved left, hit his chest and was forced home by an advancing Kirkham player. This goal really put some life back into the Kirkham team, who won the ball back from the kick off, played the ball to their number 9 unmarked on the edge of the area and he fired back across goal to find the corner of the net and take the lead.

Kirkham really had the bit between their teeth now, ten minutes from time and their number 10 fired in a long range effort that Millers keeper Chris Fidler did well to beat out from under his bar, but there was nothing he could do a couple of minutes later when Kirkham broke away, played a good one two on the edge of the box and fired home in the same corner to take a 3 – 1 lead with eight minutes to go.

Millers threw everything forward to try and salvage something from the game and with six minutes to go were awarded a free kick 25 yards out on the right side of the box. Danny Carter hit a sweet looping kick that sailed over everyone including the Kirkham keeper to pull a goal back. Then with two minutes of normal time left Millers won a corner, Carter swung the ball in and Stephen Land rose at the far post to head home the equaliser.

Millers Skipper Steven Land heads in goal number 3 - mouseover

Just as the final whistle was set to blow, both keepers made sure the game finished level. First Millers sub Chris Thornley fired in a close range shot that the Kirkham keeper plucked out of the air as it looked to be going in, then Kirkham broke sharply down the right wing played a long cross to the far side of goal which was hit first time by their number 9 from six yards out, but the Millers keeper made a stunning one handed save to push the ball past the post. Even after that both sides fired shots wide, but the game finally finished with honours even.

An entertaining game played by two sides that both wanted to win, but it will be the Millers team who would be a bit more disappointed for not claiming their sixth straight victory. However with Glossop’s game called off and Bootle losing at Colne, Millers reserves did extend their lead at the top of the table by a further point.

Steve Jackson gets challenged

Millers Team:
Chris Fidler (GK), Stephen Land, Steven Jackson, Adam Brindle, Chris Sibson, David Silcock, Jake Taylor, Aji Khan, Adam Blackburn, James Elmore, Danny Carter. Subs: Luke Smith (GK), Daniel Kitchen (45 mins for J. Taylor), Joe Ingham (60 mins for C. Sibson), Chris Thornley (78 minutes for A. Khan), Stewart Kay.

Millers Reserves next game is away next Saturday 22nd March at Padiham Reserves.

Saturday 8th March
New Mills 7 - Ashton Town 0

New Mills returned to form on Saturday with a seven goal demolition of Ashton Town. Following back-to-back away defeats the previous week , it was imperative that The Millers got back to winning ways and this they did with some style.

Kenny Mayers, who was making his full debut , opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he converted a brilliant cross from left back Shaun Roscoe at the back post and scored again four minutes later following good work from recalled midfielder Mike Ward.

Shaun Roscoe outruns the challenge

Mike Ward takes on Town's keeper Danny Vickers

Ward effectively sealed the contest and the three points on the half hour when he drilled a superb shot past the visitors keeper following another left wing cross, this time from Adam Mather.

The second half, played mostly in torrential rain, was very one sided and it was a question of how many more goals The Millers would add. Mayers had a couple of opportunities to complete his hat trick in quick succession but was denied on both occasions by good saves. Shortly after, Ashton’s keeper then had to leave the field as he injured his ankle following an accidental collision with Carlos Meakin and was replaced by one of the centre halves. Despite taking over in nets, the replacement keeper seemed to want to continue to play at centre half as he constantly came out of his area to keep the attacking Millers at bay.

Carlos Meakin creates an easy open goal

Carlos Meakin starts another Millers attack

Inevitably, the floodgates opened in the last ten minutes when the home side added a further four goals with Meakin scoring twice, taking his total for the season to 22 and at the same time replace injured team mate Garry Kharas at the top of the League’s goalscoring charts.

Substitute Matt Zajac and Joe Shaw completed the scoring as The Millers recorded their highest League victory of the season and increased their lead over second placed Kirkham and Wesham to a dozen points and sets up next week’s trip to the FA Vase semi finalists very nicely.

Team – Williams, Lomax, Roscoe, Ryan, Jackson ( S Dignan ), Shaw, Ward ( Bromley ), Knight, Mayers ( Zajac ), Meakin, Mather . Unused subs – George, Shaughnessy.

Carlos Meakin one on one with Danny Vickers

Mike Lomax solid defending

Skilful ball control from Melford Knight

The Club is running a supporters coach to Kirkham and Wesham next Saturday. The coach departs Church Lane at 11.30 with tickets being £5.

Saturday 8th March
Ashton Town Reserves 0 - New Mills Reserves 3

Millers Reserves notched up another hard fought victory on the road as they beat Ashton Town Reserves 3-0 at Edge Green Street. This win maintained Millers position in the top three, was their fifth straight victory, and fourth clean sheet in those five games. They had to battle hard for the win though, Ashton fought hard from start to finish, the referee was poor at best, the Ashton linesman nearly dislocated his shoulder with the speed he flagged for offside, and the weather conditions playing against a driving wind and sheeting rain in the first half meant the Millers team had to play well for the win.

Ashton were out of the blocks first, playing uphill with a strong swirling wind behind them, they tested the Millers keeper with two long-range efforts in the opening minutes. Millers first chance came when Adam Blackburn played in Stewart Kay, but the Ashton keeper easily collected his scuffed shot. Blackburn himself could have opened the scoring six minutes later when through one on one, but the keeper threw out a foot to block the shot. Millers won a corner on sixteen minutes, swung in by Danny Carter, but Adam Blackburn somehow managed to clear from under the Ashton bar, and when the ball came out to Chris Sibson his looped header crashed back off the bar.

Millers were enjoying more of the possession with James Elmore breaking up play in midfield, but were finding it difficult to create real chances playing against such a strong wind and some one-sided refereeing decisions, and always had to be mindful of an Ashton break. On 22 minutes Millers keeper Chris Fidler had to be alert to clear a dangerous Ashton ball over the top on the edge of his area. The Ashton keeper then made a smart save again with his foot to deny another Blackburn effort, following a good passing move between himself and Aji Khan. Steve Jackson fired over on the half hour mark, and then the heavens opened. Playing with driving rain at their backs and making it difficult to see, especially for the referee who was wearing glasses, Ashton tried their luck with another couple of skidding long-range efforts, which the Millers keeper dealt with well. Ashton kept up the pressure over the closing minutes, as the referee who clearly couldn’t see what was happening, gave some very strange decisions in their favour. It was Millers though that could have gone in at half time a goal up. Adam Blackburn looked to have been brought down for a penalty on 43 minutes but the referee waved away the claim, then in injury time he was denied again when a left foot rocket crashed back off the frame of the goal.

As the teams turned round and the second half started, the rain stopped the wind subsided slightly and the sun came out! Jake Taylor crashed a shot over in the second minute of the second half, following a good passing move between himself, Danny Carter and Adam Blackburn. Two minutes later and Ashton had a good chance but David Silcock made up ground to make a timely clearing tackle. Millers scored in the fifth minute, when the Ashton Keeper dropped a Steve Jackson free kick, but Blackburn’s follow up goal was ruled out after the Ashton linesman flagged for offside yet again! Millers then started to take control of the match creating more chances, and the Ashton keeper made another good save from a Jake Taylor shot on 56 minutes.

Millers finally broke the deadlock on the hour, when Aji Khan found Steve Jackson on the edge of the Ashton box, and he hit a fierce low drive into the corner of the net for 1-0. Two minutes later and Millers doubled their lead. Daniel Kitchen played a ball with the outside of his right foot into the Ashton box to Stewart Kay who was crudely brought down from behind, and Adam Blackburn stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and convert the penalty. Chris Sibson tested the keeper again on seventy minutes with a stinging 40 yard shot which he pushed away and then blocked Blackburn’s follow up effort. Two minutes later and he made another good block to deny substitute Chris Thornley.

Four minutes later and Millers scored again. Danny Carter played a short corner to Steve Land, took the return and fired in a great cross that the keeper dropped and when Blackburn again scored from the follow up the referee disallowed the goal for reasons known only to him. Millers were then denied for the third time by the woodwork when Daniel Kitchen made some room for himself, and bounced a 20-yard shot back off the bar. In the 89th minute Adam Blackburn was brought down on the edge of the Ashton box, and substitute Adam Brindle stepped up to fire the kick round the Ashton wall and into the far side of the goal for 3-0.

Congratulations to Steve Jackson who deservedly won the Reserves player of Month for February following some fine performances, and for the whole team who have been unbeaten since the end of January.

Millers Team:
Chris Fidler (GK), Daniel Kitchen, Steven Jackson (capt), David Silcock, Chris Sibson, James Elmore, Jake Taylor, Aji Khan, Adam Blackburn, Stewart Kay, Danny Carter. Subs: Luke Smith (GK), Stephen Land (63 minutes for A. Khan), Adam Brindle (63 minutes for S. Kay), Chris Thornley (69 minutes for D. Silcock), Joe Ingham.

Millers Reserves next game is next Saturday 15th March at Home to Kirkham & Wesham Reserves 3.00pm kick off.

Tuesday 4th March
Bootle 2 - New Mills 0

New Mills suffered their second successive League defeat at Bootle on Tuesday night.

Bootle started the game very brightly and were rewarded in the sixth minute when New Mills failed to clear a corner and Neil McQueen confidently scored past keeper Stuart Williams.

As the first half progressed, The Millers started to get more into the game with Joe Shaw influencing the game from midfield and the visitors best chance of the first half fell to striker Anthony Bingham who dragged his left foot shot wide of the post.

New Mills came out for the second half in determined mood and dominated the first twenty minutes with Garry Kharas missing a good chance to level the scores. With The Millers pushing more players forward in search for the equaliser, inevitably gaps started to appear at the back and Bootle were a constant threat on the counter attack and this proved to be the case fifteen minutes from time when Jamie Hay scored the crucial second goal.

No matter how hard The Millers tried, they just couldn't beat keeper Mark Mawdsley who had an outstanding game for the home side as did his counterpart Stuart Williams.

Team - Williams, Bromley, Lomax ( Mayers ), Ryan, Jackson, Shaw, Meakin, Roscoe ( Shaughnessy ), Kharas, Bingham, Mather. Unused subs - George, Ward, Doxey