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Millers 4 Alsager 0. Mon 8th Mar 10

Millers v Alsager Match Photo's to follow

Match report to follow

Millers 2 St Helens 1. Sat 6th March 10

Millers v St Helens Match Photo's

A dramatic injury time winner saw New Mills grab the three points against St Helens Town at a gloriously sunny Church Lane on Saturday afternoon.
After the players observed a minute's silence in memory of the Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander, the game got underway and after an even opening, it was the home side who created the first decent opportunity. Goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes's clearance unsettled the Saints defence and Steve Smith's pace saw him run onto the ball but his shot flew just wide of the upright.
There was a real flashpoint in the twenty first minute when Saints Craig Cunningham crudely chopped down Dave Swarbrick. Upon getting up from the turf, Cunningham then appeared to kick out at Swarbrick and this resulted in a melee involving players from both sides. The normally placid New Mills centre half Danny Jackson was incensed at Cunningham's actions and seemed intent on exacting some revenge. Referee Mr Moore finally calmed down the situation and cautioned both Cunningham and Jackson for their involvement.
Midfielder Chris Baguley, who had impressed for The Millers since joining from Leigh Genesis recently, then came within inches of opening the scoring when his fierce shot hit the angle of post and crossbar with keeper Graeme McCall well beaten.
The Saints who had already caused the home defence a few problems, took the lead in the thirty sixth albeit possibly against the run of play. The build up to the goal saw Jamie Baguley lose possession of the ball in midfield when he lost his footing and
Ian Frazer capitalised on Baguley's slip by playing the ball through to Rob Hanley. Hanley controlled the ball and from an angle, calmly rolled the ball past the onrushing Dominic Ingram-Hughes to give the visitors the lead.Ingram-Hughes prevented The Millers falling further behind five minutes before half time when he had to be alert to deny Hanley scoring his second but the visitors could not hang onto their lead and conceded on the stroke of the interval.
Full back John Elias needlessly gave away a free kick right on the touchline and when the ball was whipped in, Dave Swarbrick was on hand to excellently volley the ball into the top corner of Graeme McCall's net from fifteen yards.Saints goalscorer Rob Hanley was withdrawn at half time and his replacement Iain Dyson very nearly made an instant impact just three minutes after the break. Dyson charged down an attempted defensive clearance and the ball fell invitingly into the path of Graeme Mitchell who eventually drove the ball narrowly past the upright. The visitors continued their bright start to the second half and Mitchell had further chances but good goalkeeping from Ingram-Hughes denied him on both occasions.
The Millers made an unusually quiet start to the second half but started to show signs of life around the hour mark. Dave Swarbrick advanced down the right and crossed to the back post where Jamie Baguley flung himself at the ball but his diving header was well claimed by Saints keeper Graeme McCall.No matter how hard New Mills tried they just couldn't break down the Saints defence and when they did, they were denied by the woodwork. Both Jamie Baguley and substitute Stevie Hall were denied by crossbar and post respectively in the closing stages.
But The Millers were not too be denied and two minutes into time added on mainly for Saints time-wasting, Stevie Hall came up trumps. Jamie Baguley's cross found Hall deep at the back post and despite appearing to control the ball with his
hand, he then sweetly struck a right foot shot from fifteen yards aided by a slight deflection into the net to break St Helens hearts.
New Mills - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes (Berkeley) , Jackson, Band, C Baguley (Hall), Swarbrick, J Baguley , Turner, Smith (Monaghan), Mather. Unused subs - Burke, Fidler (GK)

Flixton 0 Millers 3. Weds 3rd Mar 10

Patience was the key to New Mills's ultimately comfortable victory as they overcame a resolute Flixton at Valley Road on Wednesday evening.
The home side came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute when a deep cross from the left found ex New Mills player Brian Matthews at the back post but with time and space, he stabbed his shot wide of Dominic Ingram-Hughes's upright.
This early scare prompted The Millers into action and lead by the impressive Baguley brothers, Jamie and Chris, they took a stranglehold of the midfield they very rarely looked like losing for the remainder of the game.
Promising young striker Steve Smith, promoted from the reserves, thought he had marked his debut in the most fitting manner in the thirteenth minute. Adam Mather's cross found Smith at the back post and he confidently scored past Jamie Aldred but despite the naked eye looking like Smith had timed his run to perfection, the assistant referee somewhat dubiously raised his flag for offside.
Just short of the half hour, Chris Baguley who was The Millers stand out performer on the evening, very nearly finished the best move of the opening half but his very precise side foot shot from the edge of the area hit the base of the post with Flixton's keeper Aldred a mere spectator.
Flixton's very strong and mobile back four were proving a very difficult unit to break down but they were given a helping hand by the officials five minutes before the interval. Dave Swarbrick was seemingly clattered in the box for what looked like a fairly nailed on penalty but referee Mr Mattocks decreed that the Flixton defender had played the ball and not the man and waved play on much to everybody's bemusement.
The start to the second half was delayed after one of the assistant referees had to be replaced after sustaining a hamstring injury with Flixton's secretary replacing him on the line. Once play did resume, Chris Baguley again came within inches of scoring but his free kick was well tipped away for a corner by Jamie Aldred.
The Millers pressure and persistence finally told on the hour and after playing some excellent football for the majority of the game, the goal when it did finally arrive was slightly fortunate. Dave Swarbrick's pace saw him get the better of Flixton skipper Daniel McDonnell for virtually the first time in the game. His resulting cross found Adam Mather and whilst Mather's initial shot was blocked, the ball seemingly cannoned back off a Flixton defender and rolled into the back of the net.
The opening goal was no more than the visitors deserved though and with Flixton posing very little danger to Dominic Ingram-Hughes's goal, The Millers started to turn the screw and doubled their lead eight minutes later. Debutant Steve Smith received the ball with his back to goal but a neat turn gave him the space to drill the ball into the bottom cornerfrom ten yards.
Smith then turned from scorer to provider in the build up to New Mills's third and final goal of the game eight minutes from time. His pass released Chris Baguley who ran onto the ball from midfield and cleverly lifted the ball over the advancing Aldred to put the seal on his ownoutstanding performance.
New Mills - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Burke, C Baguley (Dignan), Swarbrick (Berkeley), J Baguley (Monaghan), Turner, Smith, Mather. Unused subs - Band, Fidler (GK)

Millers 4 Silsden 0. Sat 27th Feb 10

Millers v Silsden Match Photo's

New Mills stretched their unbeaten Vodkat North West Counties Premier Division sequence to fourteen games as they comfortably defeated Silsden at Church Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers had an excellent opportunity to take the lead after only thirty five seconds of the game when Danny Jackson's long clearance caught the Silsden defence flat footed. Tommy Turner was onto the ball in a flash but as bore down on goal, Scott Hanson executed a perfectly timed last ditch tackle and put the ball behind for a corner.
Hanson and his fellow defenders defended very resolutely in the opening stages but on a rare attack forward in the sixteenth minute, the visitors very nearly took a shock lead. Peter Band's defensive clearance hit Chris Simpson and the ball fell kindly into the big attackers path. Dominic Ingram-Hughes was quickly out of his nets to close down the forward and as Simpson tried to thread the ball through the onrushing keepers legs, Ingram-Hughes blocked well and the danger was averted.
The Millers gave debuts in midfield to brothers, Jamie and Chris Baguley, signed recently from Leigh Genesis and Chris especially stood out in the first half. In the run up to the interval, twice in the matter of few seconds, he crossed dangerously into the penalty area where firstly Peter Hanson cleared the ball from virtually under his own crossbar and then Carlos Meakin headed too close to goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw.
The Millers persistence was finally rewarded in first half injury time when they finally broke the deadlock. Jamie Baguley's long pass found Adam Mather down the left and after he beat the full back with a clever turn, Mather's pinpoint cross found Syd Pickford unmarked at the back post and he had the relatively easy task of heading home his first goal for the club.
Skipper Carlos Meakin was substituted at half time with a recurrence of his foot injury and he was replaced by another new boy Kane Berkeley who joined from Northwich Victoria last week. He very nearly made the dream start to his New Mills career when he should have scored with his first touch but shot over the bar when handily placed.
However, one of the other debutants, Chris Baguley, did manage to get on the scoresheet seven minutes into the second half. Following the award of a free kick about twenty five yards from goal, Baguley expertly curled the ball around the defensive wall and into the bottom corner for an excellent goal.
From this point in the game, it was merely going to be a question of how many the home side would win by as they were dominating possession and were camped in the visitors half for long periods. Kane Berkeley atoned for his earlier miss by scoring with twenty minutes of the game remaining when he cut inside the right full back and beat Josh Ollerenshaw at his near post, Whilst the goalkeeper was certainly hindered by an unkind bounce, he probably should have saved Berkeley's effort.
The final goal of the afternoon came in the seventy ninth minute and it was again Adam Mather who was the architect. He delivered another pinpoint cross from the left and this time, it was popular centre half Peter Band who was the recipient and he powered home a header from eight yards.
New Mills - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford (Monaghan), Meakin (Berkeley), C Baguley, Turner, J Baguley (Dignan), Mather. Unused subs - Burke, Wharton

Daisy Hill 1 Millers 4. Vodkat League Cup 3rd Round. Sat 20th Feb 10

Daisy Hill v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills continued their defence of The Vodkat League Challenge Cup with victory over dogged Daisy Hill at New Sirs on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers had the ball in the net after only a hundred seconds when Gary Burke climbed highest at the back post to head across the goal to where Garry Kharas had the simple task of scoring into an empty net but the assistant referee flagged for offside.
The New Sirs pitch,which passed an early morning inspection,was proving a great leveller as both teams struggled for any meaningful possession on the heavy and rutted surface.
However, there was no need to worry about the pitch in the twenty ninth minute when the visitors took the lead with a route one goal. Goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes's long clearance was flicked on by Garry Kharas into the path of Tommy Turner. Turner's first touch was superb and his second was even better as he held off the determined challenge of Adam Chadwick to find the roof of the net from a narrow angle.
Six minutes later,The Millers put clear daylight between themselves and their First Division opponents with a fine second goal. Steve Brackenridge exchanged passes with Paul Monaghan down the right and Brackenridge's subsequent pinpoint cross found the unmarked Steve Hall who sidefooted home from twelve yards.
Brackenridge was involved in a major talking point a minute before half time when a Daisy Hill defender kicked his standing foot from under him in the penalty area but neither the referee Mr Madine or his assistant who was stood no more than ten yards from the incident deemed that an infringement had taken place. To rub salt into The Millers wound, the home side went straight down the other end and were awarded a spot kick of their own when Danny Jackson was penalised for a foul. Danny Gregory scored the penalty to halve the arrears at the interval.
The second half saw New Mills create and then waste numerous goalscoring opportunities. None more so than ten minutes after the break, Tommy Turner clashed with home keeper Scott Moore and the ball fell to Steve Brackenridge who blazed the ball over the gaping net.
Carlos Meakin returned to playing action for the first time since his injury sustained in The FA Vase game against Norton + Stockton Ancients when he came on as substitute just after the hour and he was soon in the thick of the action when he headed Adam Mather's excellent cross wide.
Meakin,looking for his first goal since early December, then had a goalbound free kick cleverly headed wide by home midfielder James Gaskell. The resulting corner saw Meakin again threatening but on this occasion, he could only sidefoot Mark Innes's cross into the side netting.
If there was one incident which perfectly summed up the second half for The Millers, it came by way of a classic goalmouth scramble ten minutes from time. Tommy Turner had at least three efforts on target but was denied on every occasion by either Daisy's keeper or a defender. Substitute Mike Bowler then had an effort but shot over when really he should have done better.
As the game entered the last minute, it looked like The Millers would have to settle for a single goal victory but they then proceeded to score two further goals to put a more realistic look to the scoreline. Carlos Meakin finally got on the scoresheet when he expertly headed home Paul Monaghan's free kick and then deep into injury time, Micky Bowler's low shot beat Scott Moore at his near post to complete the scoring which ensured The Millers recorded a tenth consecutive victory over their opponents.
New Mills - Ingram-Hughes, Monaghan, Innes, Jackson, Burke, Pickford (Wharton), Brackenridge, Hall (Bowler), Kharas (Meakin), Turner, Mather. Unused subs - Band, Fidler (GK)

Matlock Town 2 Millers 1. Derbyshire Cup Semi Final. Tues 16th Feb 10

Matlock Town v Maillers Match Photo's

New Mills bowed out of The Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup at the semi final stage following defeat at Matlock Town on Tuesday evening.
The Unibond Premier League side took the lead in the twelfth minute when following a right wing free kick, the ball luckily ricocheted into the path of Matlock's leading scorer Ross Hannah. Whilst there was an element of fortune in the build up, Hannah's strike was an excellent one as he drove the ball low across Dominic Ingram-Hughes into the opposite corner of the net.
After conceding that opening goal, The Millers started to get a foothold in the game and they drew level in the twenty first minute. Adam Mather was the creator of the equaliser with a fine fifty yard run down the left wing. His eventual cross from the bye-line found Tommy Turner and although the ball came at him at an awkward height, Turner made light work of this by finishing well for his twenty third goal of the season.
The home side regained the lead ten minutes into the second half when a free kick from wide on the left was drifted into the middle by Danny Wood and despite attempts by players on both sides, nobody appeared to touch the ball as it crept in at the back post.
Matlock's Lee Featherstone was dismissed with twelve minutes remaining after a reckless lunging tackle on substitute Garry Kharas. Despite having the supposed numerical advantage, The Millers were unable to substitute Kharas as they had already made their allotted three changes and Kharas was left as a virtual bystander on the wing for the remainder of the game.
Matlock took the sting out of the game in the latter stages by retaining the ball well in the corners and time eventually ran out on New Mills's attempts to take the game into extra time as Matlock progressed into their second successive Derbyshire Cup Final where they will face Belper Town.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford, Brackenridge (Dignan), Wharton (Kharas), Hall (Monaghan), Turner, Mather. Unused subs - Burke, Fidler (GK)

Atherton LR 0 Millers 6. Sat 13th Feb 10

Atherton LR v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills finally shrugged off their FA Vase hangover and returned to winning ways on Saturday with a convincing six goal victory over Atherton LR.
Upon winning the toss, stand in skipper Syd Pickford chose to play up the Crilly Park slope in the first half and The Millers found it tough going in the early stages on the heavy and very uneven playing surface.
The major incident of the game happened in the eighteenth minute when home captain Rob Howarth was sent off. Both Howarth and Syd Pickford were booked after squaring up to each other after clashing for the ball and then no less than sixty seconds later, Howarth scythed down Mike Bowler with a late challenge and referee Mr Parry had no option but to show Howarth his second yellow card and dismiss him from the field of play.
Despite having a man advantage and having a lot of territorial possession, The Millers were finding it difficult to create any meaningful goal scoring opportunities and it was the home side who very nearly broke the deadlock seven minutes before half time when on a rare attack, Ben Cartwright's long range effort was excellently tipped around the post by Chris Fidler.
A minute before the interval though, the visitors did made the vital breakthrough when Steve Hall's pinpoint right wing cross was headed home in trademark style by Garry Kharas at the back post.
The second half was one of complete dominance for New Mills as they used both the conditions and the extra man to their advantage and constantly attacked the LR goal. Steve Hall was the main architect of the home side's demise and he had in a hand in the second which arrived seven minutes after the interval. Adam Mather's left wing cross was deflected high into the air but Hall cushioned the ball perfectly to set up Steve Brackenridge who curled the ball into the corner of the net for an excellent goal.
Three minutes later and it again it was Hall the provider as his corner kick found unmarked centre half Gary Burke who prodded home his second goal in two games from close range.
Hall then deservedly got the goal his overall performance merited when he was fouled right on the edge of the LR penalty area. He picked himself up and then placed the free kick beyond both the wall and the dive of goalkeeper Martin Pearson to score The Millers third goal in a devastating five minute spell.
Mindful of Tuesday's forthcoming Derbyshire Cup semi final, manager Tony Hancock quickly made use of his full quota of three substitutes and two of these got on the scoresheet in the closing stages of the game.
Danny Dignan made amends for his miss against Maine Road last Monday by nodding home from close range in the seventy second minute. Although the game was already won, there was still some significance in the sixth and final goal of the afternoon which Paul Monaghan crashed home from fifteen yards as it brought up the century of goals this season for The Millers in all competitions and was a fitting way to wrap up this emphatic victory.
Team - Fidler, Bowler (Monaghan), Innes, Jackson, Burke (Band), Pickford (Dignan), Brackenridge, Wharton, Kharas, Hall, Mather. Unused sub - Ingram-Hughes (GK)

Millers 2 Maine Road 2. Mon 8th Feb 10

Millers v Maine Road Match Photo's

Following on from Saturday's disappointing exit from The FA Carlsberg Vase, New Mills dropped two vital Premier Division points after battling Maine Road grabbed a share of the spoils at Church Lane on Monday.
On a bitterly cold evening, The Millers took the lead in the tenth minute when Maine Road didn't clear Dave Swarbrick's free kick properly and when the ball fell to debutant Gary Burke, the tall centre half found the net from ten yards.
Whilst the visitors always looked lively on the counter attack, New Mills dominated possession for the majority of the half and should really have gone into the interval more than one goal to the good. Only Dave Swarbrick will know how he missed when after collecting Syd Pickford's excellent through ball, he easily rounded Road keeper Andrew Jones but then contrived to miss the open goal as his shot hit the side netting.
The first twenty minutes of the second half took a similar pattern but the visitors were defending the edge of their penalty area well and made life tough for the attackers. Eventually though, the pressure told when with seventeen minutes remaining, Tommy Turner was put clean through on goal and whilst keeper Jones blocked his initial effort, the ball fell kindly back to Turner who made no mistake second time around.
That should have been the three points wrapped up for the home side but Maine Road grabbed a lifeline almost immediately when ex New Mills defender Richard Gresty was on hand to hook the ball over Dominic Ingram Hughes as the defenders in front of him didn't clear a set piece.
This goal noticeably lifted the visitors but only a superb save from their keeper kept them in the game. With ten minutes to go, Dave Swarbrick outpaced the defenders and delivered a pinpoint cross to Adam Mather. Arriving at the back post, Mather's volley hit the target but Andrew Jones somehow turned the ball wide for a corner.
This save became even more crucial when three minutes later, Matt Struminskyj's shot took a wicked deflection off a New Mills defender to completely wrong foot Ingram Hughes to level the scores.
There was still time for another home debutant, Danny Dignan, to somehow head over another Dave Swarbrick cross when it looked far easier to score but that miss summed up a frustrating and disappointing couple of days for The Millers.
Team - Ingram Hughes, Bowler, Innes (Kharas), Jackson, Burke (Band), Pickford, Swarbrick, Wharton, Turner, Lloyd (Dignan), Mather. Unused subs - Monaghan, Fidler (GK)

Millers 0 Norton & Stockton Ancients 2. FA Vase Fourth Round. Sat 6th Feb 10

Millers v Norton & Stockton Ancients Match Photo's

Two goals late in the second half from Sonny Andrews delivered a knockout blow to New Mills's Wembley dreams as Northern League side Norton & Stockton Ancients progressed into the last eight of the FA Carlsberg Vase.
On a glorious afternoon in the High Peak, The Millers enjoyed the better of the first half and had a number of good opportunities, but as the game wore on the visitors grew in confidence and deadly finishing from leading scorer Andrews saw them through to victory.
The opening stages of the game saw most of the action around the visitors' goal with the home side starting well. In the eighth minute, an incisive through ball from captain Carlos Meakin found Bobby Lloyd in the area but his cutback was well smothered by Norton keeper James Briggs as Tommy Turner waited to pounce. Three minutes later, Turner was the recipient of another good pass from Meakin and although he found the net, the linesman had already flagged Turner offside.
Just after the quarter hour, The Millers had their best chance of half, when a great run by Carlos Meakin was halted by a strong tackle on the edge of the box, and when the ball broke to Adam Mather he sliced his shot wide of the target with time and space to pick his spot.
Even at this early stage of the game, it was clear that Norton's physical defence were going to be difficult to break down but at the other end, it was dangerman Sonny Andrews who gave an early signal of problems to come when he fired in a shot from the edge of the box that Millers' keeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes did well to beat away.
Four minutes from the break, the home side had another good chance when a great ball down the left from full back Mark Innes set Adam Mather free and from his cross into the box Gary Kharas was denied by a great block from Norton keeper Briggs whose handling in the first half was faultless.
The Millers suffered a major blow in the opening minute of the second half when their influential midfielder and leading scorer Carlos Meakin had to be substituted with a nasty looking foot injury following a strong challenge which saw the Norton player receive a caution. Meakin was later to go to hospital for a precautionary x ray which thankfully showed no broken bones.
As the second half progressed, neither side produced much in the way of clear cut chances, although Norton began to enjoy more possession and it became increasingly obvious that the first goal would be crucial. With thirteen minutes remaining, it was the visitors who made the crucial breakthrough courtesy of leading scorer Andrews, who picked up the ball on the edge of the box and arrowed an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the net.
It was a crushing blow for the Millers, and it got worse when Andrews repeated the dose three minutes later, this time curling what looked initially like a cross from the left wing over the outstretched hand of Dominic Ingram-Hughes into the far top corner.
From that point on, the home side were always up against it and despite a lot of possession in the closing stages of the game, they just could not find a way past Norton keeper James Briggs.
Team - Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin (Brackenridge), Lloyd, Kharas, Turner (Hall), Mather (Wharton). Unused Subs: Fidler, Burke.
Referee: Mr R. P. Newman (Barnsley)

St Helens 0 Millers 4. Tues 26th Jan 10

Buoyed by their continued success in The FA Vase, New Mills produced another excellent all-round team performance to defeat St Helens Town 4-0 at Knowsley Road on Tuesday evening.
Saturday's goal scoring hero Tommy Turner was in the thick of the action in the opening stages of the game. In only the third minute, he capitalised on a slip by defender Douglas Pitts but rushed his shot when he had time and space to steady himself first but four minutes later, he made no mistake when again slack play in the home defence aided by a deflection presented him with another opportunity from which Turner coolly beat Graeme McCall at the near post to register this twentieth goal of a productive season.
Midfielder Dave Swarbrick, who is ineligible to play in The Vase after playing in a previous round for Holker Old Boys, returned to The Millers league line up and it was he who scored his first goal for his new club in the eleventh minute. A free kick from the right was again not defended properly by the Saints defence and when the ball eventually fell to Swarbrick, he scored with ease from close range to double The Millers lead.
The home side were up against it in the early stages of the game as they struggled to contend with The Millers attack lead by the pacy Swarbrick who threatened on every occasion that he had the ball but slowly the Saints started to gain some possession and created a rare chance midway through the half. Marc Stephens's pass beat the visitors offside trap and found Mike Fargher. Despite being at an angle, Fargher bore down on goal and tried to curl the ball into the corner of Dominic Ingram-Hughes's net but his effort cleared both the advancing keeper and the crossbar.
Apart from Fargher's effort, The Millers soaked up the home side's attacks with relative ease and another classy goal from midfielder Bobby Lloyd effectively killed the game off ten minutes before the interval. His skill and quick feet created enough time and space for him to fire an audacious twenty five yard shot past Graeme McCall into the roof of the net.
If there was proof that it wasn't going to be the home side's night , it came in first half stoppage time when Mark Innes's bad back pass sold keeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes short. Despite being pressured by Peter Band, Saints Iain Dyson had virtually an open goal to aim at but his shot lacked power and subsequently rolled agonisingly wide of the upright.
The second half continued in similar fashion with the home side playing neat possession football but failing to break down The Millers solid defensive line which was protected by the outstanding Syd Pickford. To highlight this point, it was hard to remember the home side having a shot on target in the second half. With the damage done in the first half, The Millers were content to keep the ball at every opportunity which meant that the attackers weren't quite as lively after the break but just after the hour, only a smart fingertip save from Graeme McCall prevented Garry Kharas profiting from Tommy Turner's cross.
The latter wrapped up the goal scoring thirteen minutes from time when Bobby Lloyd dispossessed Ben Kay on the edge of the area and his neat pass played in Turner who clinically found the top corner from twelve yards.
This victory saw The Millers climb back into second place of The North West Counties League as they continue to pursue unbeaten runaway leaders Newcastle Town.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford, Lloyd (Monaghan), Swarbrick (Brackenridge), Turner, Kharas, Wharton (Mather). Unused sub - Fidler (GK)

Millers 2 Witney United 1. FA Vase Fourth Round. Sat 23rd Jan 10

Millers v Witney United Match Photo's

A brilliant second half comeback inspired by a brace of goals from striker Tommy Turner saw New Mills defeat Witney United and move into the last sixteen of The Vase for the first time in the Club's history.
Following the recent adverse weather, Church Lane hosted its first game since the previous round of The Vase some seven weeks ago and the crowd who witnessed the game would not have been disappointed as the game pretty much had everything and was a wonderful advert for grassroots football.
The Millers leading scorer Carlos Meakin had the game’s first goalscoring opportunity in the ninth minute but his header from Mark Inne’s free kick was inches wide. After that early scare, the Oxfordshire based visitors started to get a grip of the game and they had the ball in the net in
the twenty first minute when midfielder Andy Styles dispossessed centre half Peter Band on the edge of the penalty area and although Styles comfortably netted, referee Mr Toner had already blown his whistle and penalised Styles for the tackle.
The visitors weren’t too be denied for long though and took the lead three minutes later in slightly fortuitous circumstances. A defensive clearance inadvertently hit Peter Band and the ball ricocheted kindly into the path of left winger Andrew Younie. His resulting low cross was neatly converted via the inside of the near post by Ben Thompson.
Within a minute, Garry Kharas had the ball in the net at the other end but was denied by the linesman’s flag and this was to a recurring theme for the remainder of the first half for The Millers as they were constantly caught offside by the well-drilled Witney defence.
Neither goalkeeper had really been tested for the majority of the first half but both made crucial saves in the run up to the interval. Firstly United’s Paul Tassell tipped around Syd Pickford’s stinging volley from the edge of the box and then Dominic Ingram Hughes kept the home side in the game by making a superb double save to firstly deny goalscorer Thompson and then Andy Younie’s follow up effort.
That double save was to prove the possible turning point of the game as after the break, The Millers dominated as their pace, power and superior fitness was simply too much for the visitors to handle.
Syd Pickford, who had an outstanding game in the middle of the park unsuccessfully tried his luck from distance on a couple of occasions but the equalizer finally came just after the hour. Substitute Stevie Hall found Tommy Turner in acres of space and after negotiating a couple of half hearted challenges from Witney defenders, he neatly tucked the ball under the advancing Tassell
The home side were looking the far stronger of the two teams at this point as the visitors were noticeably tiring in the heavy conditions and under the constant wave of attacks. It was therefore no surprise when four minutes later, Turner was on hand to score his second goal of the afternoon.
A corner kick for the home side saw Carlos Meakin’s header hit the far post and scrambled away for another corner. This time, Witney were not to be so lucky as Adam Mather’s deep cross found Turner with time and space at the back post albeit at an acute angle. After steadying himself, he threaded the ball home into the unguarded far corner of the net for his nineteenth goal of the season amidst scenes of great celebration both on and off the pitch.
As the fog which had been lurking around Church Lane all day quickly descended over the pitch, The Millers had golden opportunities to wrap up the game in the closing stages but Steve Hall and Turner again, both failed to take advantage of their gilt edged chances but with Witney having nothing left in their tanks to stage a comeback, the home side held onto their advantage and the final whistle was greeted with great joy.
New Mills now face The Northern League’s Norton and Stockton Ancients in the last sixteen and the game will take place at Church Lane on Saturday 6th February.
Teams - New Mills - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin, Lloyd (Brackenridge), Kharas (Hall), Turner, Wharton (Mather). Unused subs - Monaghan, Fidler (GK)
Witney - Tassell, Smith, Butler, Henderson, Cattell, Styles (Szczukiewicz), Odhiambo, Mills,
Wickens (Harper), Thompson, Younie (Byfield). Unused subs Bridges,Okole (GK)
Attendance - 260

Long Eaton United 2 Millers 3. Derbyshire Cup Second Round. Tues 19th Jan 10

Team - Ingram Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Wharton, Meakin (C), Brackenridge, Kharas,Turner, Mather. Subs: Fidler, Monaghon (Mather), Conlon, Ford (Turner)

Ramsbottom United 0 Millers 0. Sat 12th Dec 09

Ramsbottom v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills's long winning sequence came to an end at the picturesque Riverside Ground on Saturday as strong defensive performances ensured a goalless stalemate with third placed Ramsbottom United.
On a cold, crisp afternoon, ex Miller Jon Robinson created the first chance of the game when he broke free down the left hand channel but his cross failed to find Rammy's joint player manager Anthony Johnson and the danger was cleared.
Minutes later at the other end, Tommy Turner picked up Danny Jackson's long clearance and momentarily it looked like he was clean through on goal but the ball didn't bounce truly on the soft, tacky surface and Turner had to take extra touches to keep control of the ball and this meant that the chance was lost.
On the quarter hour, Jon Robinson picked up Peter Band's defensive header and his left foot shot whistled past the post but then Robinson's poor discipline came to the fore again. With this being his first game back following a three match ban after being shown a straight red card in the reverse fixture, he lunged in late on left back Mark Innes who reacted to the challenge and a less lenient official may have dismissed him again but eventually showed yellow cards to both players.
The home side finished the first half stronger and saw Carl Lomax's finishing fail to match his build up play and then right on half time, Nathan Wharton superbly blocked a goalbound shot by throwing himself into the flight of the ball.
The Millers had probably their best opportunity of the game two minutes into the second half when pacy Dave Swarbrick wriggled free of the Rammy defence but after cutting inside, his right foot shot was just too high of the target.
The game had to be held up for a period of time when Rammy's Shaun Whitehead who started the season at Church Lane, had to leave the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder which he unfortunately sustained by merely passing the ball to a team-mate and with no other player within five yards of him.
Shortly after Whitehead’s departure, the home keeper Damian Rooney made an excellent save following a scramble in his penalty area. Carlos Meakin’s cross created panic in the Rammy defence for probably the only time in the game and neither Tommy Turner nor Nathan Wharton could get any meaningful connection on the ball and the eventual shot was well tipped away for a corner by Rooney.
Rooney was beaten just after the hour though when left back Mark Innes floated in a deep cross from the left wing but he was saved by his crossbar as the ball bounced off it with the keeper completely helpless.
This was to be The Millers last chance of any significance as they were constantly thwarted by Rammy’s centre halves John Blackley and Keiron Fletcher whereas at the other end, Peter Band and Danny Jackson had equally good games in New Mills’s backline.
The home side did have the ball in the back of the net deep into stoppage time when Andy Sensale’s cross was headed home by Joel Pilkington but the referee spotted a clear push by Pilkington and the stalemate was ensured.
The game was far from being a boring goalless draw as both teams constantly tried to break down the respective defences but failed to do so and the eventual result was probably a fair reflection of the ninety minutes.
Team – Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin, Wharton (Hall), Turner, Swarbrick, Mather (Kharas). Unused subs – Monaghan, Lomax, Fidler (GK)

Millers 5 West Auckland Town 1. FA Vase Third Round. Sat 5th Dec 09

Millers v West Auckland Town Match Photo's

An inspired first half performance saw New Mills move into the last thirty two of The FA Carlsberg Vase as they beat West Auckland Town 5-1 at Church Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the exceptionally hard work of the groundstaff, conditions were slippery underfoot following the week’s intense rain but the home team adapted particularly well and created a host of chances in the early stages of the game. Skipper Carlos Meakin hit the post in only the second minute with a clever close range back-heel, Tommy Turner then dragged a shot wide of the far post when well positioned and then Bobby Lloyd’s shot was well blocked by a West Auckland defender.
The early pressure told though in the seventh minute when Syd Pickford’s long ball over the top of the visitors defence found Tommy Turner in acres of space and he coolly rounded goalkeeper Billy Hanson before slotting the ball into the empty net.
A little bit of luck aided The Millers doubling their advantage four minute later when referee Mr Hayward collided with an Auckland player and this created a big space for Carlos Meakin to exploit. Meakin strode on and then fired a trademark right footed drive into the corner of the net from twenty yards.
West Auckland’s goalkeeper Billy Hanson kept his side in the game with two exceptional saves in quick succession from Syd Pickford and in particular from Bobby Lloyd’s deflected effort but Hanson was left exposed by a quick free kick on the half hour. Micky Bowler found Mark Innes in plenty of space on the left. Quick interplay between Innes and Adam Mather lead to Mather swinging a delightful ball right onto the head of an unmarked Carlos Meakin who couldn’t miss from six yards out.
Carlos completed his hat-trick ten minutes from the interval when he capitalised on a parry by Billy Hanson from Bobby Lloyd’s speculative long distance shot to score from close range. Not content with three, Carlos scored his fourth goal of the afternoon from the penalty spot five minutes from half time. A West Auckland defender was penalised for handball and Meakin drove home the resultant spot kick to give The Millers a thoroughly deserved five goal lead at the break.
From a New Mills perspective and with the damage already done, the second half was more like after The Lord Mayors Show as they failed to break down a more resolute and spirited West Auckland defensive performance. Saying that, substitute Garry Kharas was unlucky not to add a sixth goal when his diving header from Micky Bowler’s cross crashed against the post with the goalkeeper a mere bystander.
To their eternal credit, West Auckland never gave up and Stuart Banks had their first serious effort on target thirteen minutes from time and shortly after Ian Maddison scored a consolation goal for the visitors.
Garry Kharas’s late header was disallowed for offside so The Millers had to be content with the five goals scored in the first half as they confidently moved into the Fourth Round of the Vase for the first time in the Club’s history.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Pickford (Monaghan), Meakin (Hall), Heffernan, Turner, Lloyd (Kharas), Mather. Unused subs - Lomax, Fidler (GK)

Runcorn Linnets 0 Millers 4. Tues 24th Nov 09

Runcorn v Millers Match Photo's

Neither terrible weather conditions nor Runcorn Linnets could stop New Mills as a superb team performance saw them run out comfortable victors at Wincham Park on Tuesday evening.
The Millers, who gave a debut in midfield to Dave Swarbrick signed from Holker Old Boys, were looking to avenge an early season 5-3 home reverse to The Linnets, very nearly gifted the home side a lead in the seventh minute. Left winger Michael Case, who made a very bright opening to the game, beat Micky Bowler and delivered a dangerous cross. The centre evaded Runcorn's strikers but not left back Mark Innes who diverted the ball goalwards but fortunately it hit goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes and somehow didn't go in.
New Mills started to adapt to the gale force wind and driving rain and their midfield started to grip on the game. Adam Mather was a constant threat down the left in the first half and Linnets right back Kyle Jacobs was beaten on numerous occasions by Mather's pace and skill.
In the run-up to the interval, Tommy Turner had a hat trick of great opportunities to open the scoring for The Millers but on each occasion was denied by Runcorn's keeper Phil Priestley.
But the pressure finally told five minutes before half time when the visitors took the lead. Bobby Lloyd and Dave Swarbrick linked up well down the right flank and it was the debutant who fired over the cross for who else but Carlos Meakin to find the net from close range. The Millers skipper looked suspiciously offside and whilst Runcorn argued with the officials about the validity of the goal, there was no doubt that New Mills deserved to be in front at this stage.
Five minutes after the break and it was that man Meakin again who was on hand to score his twenty third goal of the season. Dave Swarbricks's deep corner from the right was headed back across goal by Peter Band to the unmarked Meakin who clinically volleyed home from eight yards.
Four minutes later and the game and the three points were in the bag as Bobby Lloyd scored the goal of the evening which was worth the admission money alone. He collected the ball on the right edge of the penalty area and created some room with his quick feet and a trademark piece of skill. He then cut inside a defender before superbly curling the ball into the top corner of the net to register The Millers fiftieth League goal of the season.
If anything, the wind got stronger and the rain fell harder in the final quarter of the game and with the visitors in cruise control at this point, the game got a little scrappy but there was still time for one last goal.
With seven minutes remaining, a long punt forward was flicked on by substitute Garry Kharas. Tommy Turner's pace enabled him to collect the ball and after drawing the keeper, he finally got the better of Phil Priestley by side footing the ball under him and to round off the scoring for the evening.
Despite the appalling weather, this really was an outstanding display by The Millers who are now unbeaten since mid September, a run of fourteen games in all competitions.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Pickford (Hall), Meakin, Swarbrick ( Kharas ), Turner, Lloyd, Mather ( Wharton ). Unused subs - Lomax, Fidler (GK)

Millers 6 Tividale 1. FA Vase Second Round. Sat 21st Nov 09

Millers v Tividale Match Photo's

Not only did it rain weather wise at Church Lane on Saturday afternoon, it also rained goals as New Mills beat Tividale 6-1 to progress to the third round of The FA Vase for the first time in its history.
Although the Birmingham based side who play at one level lower than The Millers in The West Midlands Regional Premier League had the game’s first effort on target in the game when Kyle Hill shot from distance only for Dominic Ingram-Hughes to parry, the visitors were soon to learn of the familiar threat posed by New Mills skipper Carlos Meakin.
Within sixty seconds of Hill’s effort, Meakin had come even closer when he hit the inside of the near post with a left footed shot but two minutes later, Tividale were their own worst enemies by leaving him unmarked as he rose highest to head home Steve Hall’s free kick to give The Millers the all important lead.
Tividale equalised in the twentieth minute when referee Mr Booker adjudged Tommy Turner to have fouled Joel Kettle in the area and Anthony Cox confidently scored from the resulting spot kick.
Following the equaliser, Tividale had their best spell of the game as their pacey forwards caused New Mills’s defence a few problems but The Millers soon regained control of the game with a second goal albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances. In the twenty ninth minute, Carlos Meakin’s long distance strike appeared to be going wide of the target until it hit Peter Band in the midriff and the deflection beat Chris Walwyn in the Tividale net.
This goal spurred the home side on and although Tommy Turner failed to capitalise on a great chance to increase the lead when he blazed over an open goal, The Millers took a two goal advantage into the break when they took advantage of a poor decision from the assistant referee.
Following a Tividale attack, the assistant on the far side of the pitch failed to notice that the ball had clearly crossed the bye-line by some considerable margin and play was allowed to continue. A superb swift counter attack resulted and Bobby Lloyd played the ball into the feet of Adam Mather who comfortably found the corner of the net.
The driving rain intensified after the break but it did not stop the home side from continuing their dominance on the game and nine minutes after the break, they practically sealed the game when a superb quick free kick caught Tividale unawares. Adam Mather and Steve Hall linked up well and although aided by a deflection, Carlos Meakin drove the ball home for New Mills’s fourth of the afternoon.
With defeat looking inevitable at this point, the visitors started to throw their weight around a little and only some lenient officiating from referee Mr Booker prevented some rightful yellow cards from being shown.
Despite the tackles flying in, The Millers retained their composure and scored two further goals via their substitutes to wrap up proceedings for the afternoon. In the seventy second minute, Garry Kharas headed home Danny Heffernan’s free kick and then it was Heffernan’s turn to score five minutes later when he outjumped Robert Radcliffe at the back post to head home New Mills’s sixth and final goal.
Several other late chances were missed so The Millers had to settle for a 6-1 victory which ensures a home tie with Northern League side West Auckland Town on the first weekend of December.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin (Wharton), Hall (Heffernan), Turner (Kharas), Lloyd, Mather. Unused subs - Lomax, Fidler (GK)

Shirebrook Town 0 Millers 3. Derbyshire Cup Second Round. Weds 18th Nov 09

Shirebrook Town v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills progressed into the last eight of The Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup by comfortably beating Shirebrook Town at a blustery Langwith Road on Wednesday evening.
Mindful of playing a League game against Congleton only forty eight hours previous and with one eye on Saturday's important FA Vase game, manager Tony Hancock gave the night off to a number of senior players but it was far from a weakened side that took to the field.
One of the few regular first-teamers on show was striker Tommy Turner and he gave The Millers the lead in the seventeenth minute when he collected Nathan Wharton's deft chip over the Shirebrook defence and scored off the underside of the crossbar.
It was Turner again who doubled the lead sixteen seconds after the interval when he ran on to Paul Monaghan's pass. With the Shirebrook defence nowhere to be seen, Turner simply composed himself and lobbed the on-rushing keeper Simon Smith from twelve yards.
Skipper for the night Nathan Wharton made the tie safe on the hour. The impressive Mario Bryan fought well for the ball in midfield and following a determined run down the right, his cross was cut out by a home defender but the ball ran kindly to Wharton who drove the loose ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Shirebrook's miserable night was compounded six minutes from time when Simon Johnson was sent off. Having already been booked, Johnson lunged in late on Paul Monaghan and may well have been shown a straight red for the challenge but referee Mr Adcock deemed a second caution was punishment enough.
Team - Fidler, Kennedy, S Jackson, Lomax, Conlon, Monaghan (Mather), Brackenridge, Wharton, Turner (Maloney), Bryan (Waring), Ford. Unused sub - Arnold (GK)

Millers 3 Congleton 0. Mon 16th Nov 09

Millers v Congleton Town Match Photo's

New Mills leapfrogged Congleton Town to go second in The North West Counties Premier Division after beating their Cheshire rivals 3-0 at Church Lane on Monday evening.
Despite being above The Millers at the start of play, the visitors arrived in the middle of an indifferent run of form with no win in five games in all competitions and they were lucky not to fall behind as early as the second minute when superb build up lead to Carlos Meakin's shot being parried by Town keeper Matt Conkie straight into the path of Garry Kharas who scored with ease but the assistant referee flagged Kharas offside.
The home team were back to full strength following their dramatic FA Vase penalty shoot out victory at Bourne Town on Saturday where a number of their recent signings were ineligible to play and it was one of the returning players, Bobby Lloyd, who was at the centre of most attacking play for The Millers in the first half. Lloyd's skill and quick feet were a joy to watch and he very nearly carved a goal out of nothing in the thirteenth minute but his left foot shot from outside the area went just wide of the far upright.
The Millers deservedly took the lead in the twenty first minute when again Lloyd was involved in the build up play and played the ball out to Adam Mather. Mather's left wing cross was played into the danger area and Congleton's defensive cause was not helped by what looked like a slip from one of their defenders. The ball fell to captain Carlos Meakin who threaded the ball home into the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy to register his nineteenth goal of yet another productive season.
Congleton, who were already without leading scorer Andy Kinsey, suffered another blow when his replacement Scott Dundas limped off after half an hour with a leg injury. No sooner had the substitution been made but Town's night got even worse when Bobby Lloyd got the goal his performance had merited when he superbly converted another Adam Mather cross.
The visitors started the second half brighter and their first serious effort of the game came three minutes after the interval when substitute Andy Hurst broke The Millers offside trap albeit in a wide position. His resulting low angled shot was saved well down at his near post by Dominic Ingram-Hughes.
New Mills soon regained the initiative though with their midfield superiority particularly standing out. Despite being restricted by a groin injury for the whole of the game, Congleton's keeper Matt Conkie made an excellent save from a trademark Carlos Meakin free kick. Conkie was a bystander seconds later when the subsequent corner saw Garry Kharas's header unluckily hit the base of the post.
The Millers were not to be denied for long though and sealed the win and the three points just after the hour when Adam Mather turned from goal provider to goal scorer on this occasion and expertly headed Carlos Meakin's right wing cross back across goal to give Conkie no chance whatsoever.
With the game effectively won and possibly with tired legs from Saturday's extra time and the heavy pitch conditions on the night, The Millers took their foot off the pedal a little in the closing stages of the game but their defence lead by impressive centre halves Peter Band and Danny Jackson maintained their clean sheet to ensure a fourth consecutive Premier Division victory.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes (Monaghan), Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin, Hall (Heffernan), Kharas (Turner), Lloyd, Mather. Unused subs - McGarry (GK), Lomax

Bourne Town 2 Millers 2. (Millers win 5-4 on pens). FA Vase First Round. Sat 14th Nov 09

Bourne Town v Millers Match Photo's

"Let the football do the talking" was The FA's verdict after they ordered the original tie to be replayed and New Mills spoke the loudest as they survived a breathless game which included last gasp equalisers, injured officials and then a sudden death penalty shoot out to finally book their place in the second round of The FA Vase at the expense of Lincolnshire side Bourne Town.
Forty nine seconds of the game had elapsed when Danny Heffernan was a whisker away from giving the visitors the lead but his long range shot grazed the post with goalkeeper Daniel Jarman a spectator. The remainder of the first half was a very tight affair with a strong wind and bobbly pitch dominating proceedings but Bourne unexpectedly took the lead in first half stoppage time when following a corner, Rob Masters scored from close range with the home side's sole shot on target of the opening forty five minutes.
The Millers perked up considerably after the break and again it was Heffernan who had an early chance to score when he rose highest at a corner but a lucky deflection of a Bourne defender took all the pace of the effort. Tommy Turner was then pushed what looked like inside the penalty area but referee Mr Adcock deemed the infringement had taken place outside the box and awarded a free kick right on the edge.
Just after the hour, Bourne doubled their advantage when Masters was again in the right place at the right time after a game of pinball in the New Mills penalty area and suddenly The Millers had a mountain to climb.
Tommy Turner almost brought the visitors back into the game immediately from the resulting kick off but his effort from close range hit the angle of post and crossbar but fortunately Turner finally got on the score sheet with eight minutes remaining when he bundled the ball over the line from only a couple of yards. The celebrations seemed to be cut short when the linesmen was seen flagging for an infringement in the build up to the goal but after consultation, the referee over-ruled his assistant and allowed the goal to stand.
This lifeline saw New Mills take a stranglehold on the game as their opponents were visibly tiring and with two minutes of normal time to go, substitute Josh Ford, promoted from the reserves, ensured the game would go into extra time with a low shot which found the bottom corner. When The FA ruled that the original had to be replayed, they informed both teams that the tie would be decided on the day so the game went into thirty minutes overtime. The extra half hour brought no further goals but there was plenty of action mainly around the Bourne goal with the closest coming when Paul Monaghan's deflected shot looped over the helpless keeper but hit the top of the crossbar. The game was delayed for about five or six minutes in the second period after one of the assistant referees turned his ankle and had to be replaced by one of the crowd for the last ten minutes of extra time.
A penalty shoot out then followed and it is reckoned to be the first time the Club had been involved in a shoot out in a national FA competition. Millers keeper Chris Fidler saved Bourne's second pen. Danny Jackson then missed New Mills's fourth spot kick but thankfully Steve Brackenridge kept his nerve to score the tenth and last regulation penalty to take the game into sudden death. Bourne's Keith Gray took the first sudden death spot kick and Chris Fidler made an outstanding save to his left which gave Danny Heffernan the chance to win the game and although it wasn't the best penalty taken in the shoot out, none of the travelling fans cared as it hit the back of the net to ensure that The Millers progress to the second round where they will face West Midlands Regional Premier League side Tividale FC.
Team – Fidler, Lomax (Ford), Innes, Jackson, Band, Wharton, Heffernan, Bowler, Kharas (Monaghan) Turner, Mather (Brackenridge). Unused sub – Arnold (GK)

Penalty shoot-out details
Antonio Pasco (scored)	1-0	Bourne Town
Nathan Wharton (scored)	1-1
Adriano Staffieri (saved)	1-1
Tommy Turner (scored)	1-2	New Mills
Ian Dunn (scored)	2-2
Paul Monaghan (scored)	2-3	New Mills
Anthony Brooks (scored)	3-3
Danny Jackson (saved)	3-3
Adam Jackson (scored)	4-3	Bourne Town
Steve Brackenridge (scored)	4-4
SUDDEN DEATH
Keith Gray (saved)	4-4
Danny Heffernan (scored)	5-4	New Mills

Millers 5 Ramsbottom United 1. Sat 7th Nov 09

Millers v Ramsbottom Match Photo's

New Mills turned on the style with arguably their best performance of the season so far as they put five past ill disciplined Ramsbottom United in an action-packed game at Church Lane on Saturday.
The visitors came into the game on a high after a recent good run of results and it was they who had the first effort of the game. Referee Mr Durbin harshly penalised Peter Band for a foul on ex Miller Jon Robinson on the edge of the penalty area and it was Robinson himself who curled the resulting free kick over the wall but thankfully straight at returning goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes.
The home side took the lead in the ninth minute when Bobby Lloyd’s quick feet gave him an opportunity to cross the ball across the face of the goal to where Adam Mather was waiting to crash the ball into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later and the lead should have been doubled when Mather’s excellent free kick found Garry Kharas whose header was well saved by Rammy keeper Damien Rooney, a scramble ensued and the ball eventually broke free to skipper Carlos Meakin whose fierce shot cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety.
Meakin was not to be denied for too long though and he did find the net in the seventeenth minute when his sidefooted shot was measured to absolute perfection as it nestled right into the corner of the net.
The Millers were worthy leaders at this point but The Rams got back into the game just after the half hour when Matt Edgington’s cross was not collected at the near post by Ingram-Hughes and John Blackley was on hand to put away the rebound.
The goal gave Ramsbottom a lift and they finished the half stronger. Ingram-Hughes made amends for his earlier error by making a fine reaction save from a snapshot by The Premier Division’s Player Of The Month Andy Sensale.
It was Sensale again who had a good chance to equalise ten minutes after the interval when he wriggled free of The Millers defence but his shot went across the face of the goal with no player running in on the effort at the back post.
That really was Rammy’s last serious effort of the game as the home side took complete control of the game particularly in the midfield where Steve “ Syd” Pickford, signed during the week from Droylsden, had an outstanding debut.
Carlos Meakin should have restored the two goal advantage for The Millers when he intercepted a stray pass and he bore down in goal in trademark style but for once, he chose not to shoot and instead he passed the ball to Bobby Lloyd whose low shot hit the base of the post.Manager Tony Hancock brought on substitute Tommy Turner, who is still suffering some discomfort from a niggling foot injury, and it was the introduction of Turner which ultimately decided the outcome of the game.
Within six minutes, Turner showed his goalscoring instincts by slotting the ball under keeper Rooney which capped a fine move involving Carlos Meakin and Syd Pickford.
Ramsbottom had walked a tightrope all game with their discipline and after four cautions, co-manager and substitute Anthony Johnson was dismissed from the dug out for his vocal protests after a huge penalty shout was dismissed by referee Mr Durbin.
With seven minutes of the game remaining, it was Tommy Turner again who put the result of the game beyond doubt with the goal of the afternoon when he clinically arrowed a shot into Rammy’s net from the corner of the penalty area.
A minute later and the referee was forced to show another red card when Jon Robinson soured his return to Church Lane with an ugly, two footed lunge at Bobby Lloyd and then in the melee that followed, he aimed what looked like a headbutt at Peter Band. The immediate red card which followed was no less than Robinson deserved.
There was still time for one last goal in stoppage time when it was that man Turner again who broke free of the tired looking Rams defence but although it looked like Turner had collected his hat-trick after he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper, it was in fact Ramsbottom’s substitute Mark Sharples who got the last touch on the ball and the goal was officially credited as an own goal .
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Pickford, Meakin, Hall (Turner), Kharas, Lloyd, Mather. Unused subs - Heffernan, Monaghan, Lomax, Fidler (GK)

Holker Old Boys 1 Millers 2. Vodkat League Cup 2nd Round. Sat 31st Oct 09

Holker v Millers Match Photo's

A superb last minute winner from substitute Garry Kharas ensured holders New Mills progressed into the next round of The Vodkat League Cup by defeating Holker Old Boys 2-1 on Saturday.
The Millers have had some bad luck with Cup draws so far this season with several long away trips in various competitions and this trip to Cumbria was a perfect example of that fact. Another area where The Millers have had terrible luck is in the goalkeepers position and Gareth Jones stepped up from the reserves to become the eighth person to go between the sticks this season as both Dominic Ingram-Hughes and Chris Fidler were ruled out with injury although the latter was on the substitutes bench. The visitors also gave a debut in midfield to Steve Hall who signed from Unibond South side Witton Albion during the week.
The home side, who are mid table in The North West Counties First Division, played down The Rakesmoor Lane slope in the first half and very nearly opened the scoring in bizarre circumstances in the tenth minute. Goalkeeper Ben Morsby’s huge punt downfield very nearly embarrassed his opposite number Jones who may possibly have lost the flight of the ball in the low sun. The back-peddling Jones was alert enough to push the ball away from the goal and was then on hand to smartly block Mike Kewley’s follow up effort.
After that scare, the visitors started to settle a little and knocked the ball around the midfield with Adam Mather and Bobby Lloyd particularly standing out and it was Mather himself who had a low shot well saved by Morsby.
The home side had a big shout for a penalty half way through the first half when a cross from the left appeared to hit Paul Monaghan’s arm but the referee waved away the loud appeals and as he was on the blind side to the incident, he was clearly heard to tell one of the Holker players that he couldn’t have awarded the spot kick as he would have been guessing where the ball had hit Monaghan.
The remainder of the first half saw The Millers continue to press Holker’s goal without really creating any clear cut opportunities. The closest they came to breaking the deadlock was when Carlos Meakin’s free kick deflected off the wall narrowly wide of the post and then right on half time, Tommy Turner broke free of the defence albeit at a tight angle and his shot across the face of the goal was parried away from danger by Morsby in the Holker goal.
The second half was only three minutes old when the best chance of the game fell to the visitors when Bobby Lloyd intercepted a bad pass from Holker’s Gareth Smith and was left with a clear route to goal. Lloyd drew keeper Morsby and sidefooted the ball past him but unfortunately also past the far post too.
That miss proved not to be a costly one as four minutes later The Millers finally took the lead. Paul Mongahan won the ball well in midfield with a strong challenge and then delivered a pinpoint cross right onto the head of the unmarked Tommy Turner who couldn’t miss from eight yards.
This goal should have settled the visitors down but it had the opposite effect and it was the home side who upped the tempo and pushed The Millers onto the back foot. It was within this time that Holker created their best chance of the game when Gareth Smith’s left wing cross had just too much pace on for Mike Kewley to convert in the six yard box. Any meaningful contact from Kewley probably would have resulted in a goal.
Holker did eventually equalise with sixteen minutes remaining when striker Dave Swarbrick outpaced The Millers defence, rounded keeper Jones and slotted the ball into the empty net. Jones then kept the holders in the Cup with two smart, almost identical blocks from Gareth Smith and substitute Paul Southward.
But it was a contribution from another substitute who finally put paid to the brave efforts of the home side. Garry Kharas had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he rose magnificently to powerfully head home Mike Bowler’s free kick via the underside of the crossbar.
Not for the first time this season, The Millers won with a very late goal and there was no doubt that Kharas's goal was of the highest quality and it deserved to win any game of football.
Team – Jones, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Monaghan, Meakin, Hall (Heffernan),Turner (Conlon), Lloyd (Kharas), Mather. Unused sub – Fidler (GK)

Millers 4 Winsford United 1. Sat 24th Oct 09

Millers v Winsford United Match Photos

Team - Fidler, Bowler, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Monaghan (Taylor), Meakin, Heffernan (Cadwallader), Turner (Turvey), Lloyd, Mather. Unused subs - Higginbotham ( GK ), Conlon

Squires Gate 1 v Millers 2. Sat 17th Oct 09

Squires Gate v Millers Match Photo's

Carlos Meakin's last minute winner secured three points for New Mills at gloriously sunny Blackpool on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers debutants, goalkeeper Dominic Ingram-Hughes and midfielder Bobby Lloyd made positive early contributions. Lloyd,signed from Conference North leaders Droylsden, nearly opened the scoring in only the third minute but he connected maybe too well with his shot as it sailed just over the crossbar. Ingram-Hughes, who joined from Woodley Sports, made a good save by smartly blocking Louis Mayers shot.
After scoring his hundredth goal for The Millers against Parkhouse in The Derbyshire Senior Cup last Monday, Millers skipper Carlos Meakin started to make inroads on his second century when he opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute. Squires Gate were penalised for tripping Bobby Lloyd just outside the penalty area and Meakin made them pay the ultimate penalty by crashing in the free kick and although a slight deflection didn't help Gate keeper Andy Speight, he did get fingertips to the free kick and maybe should have done better.
The visitors controlled the first half hour but Gate lead by right winger Chris Bennett started to get a grip of the game but the next best goalscoring opportunity fell The Millers way in first half stoppage time. A superb cross from the left by Adam Mather found striker Garry Kharas at the back post and he virtually did everything right by heading across goal but the ball hit the inside of the post and ricocheted kindly straight back into the hands of keeper Speight.
Squires Gate started the second half strongly as their two wide men caused the New Mills defence several problems and striker Isaac Kusaloka nearly profited from a cross but his effort was well parried by Ingram-Hughes. The Millers keeper suffered a dead leg shortly after and with the full quota of three substitutes already used, he was forced to struggle on.
Isaac Kusaloka had the ball in the net for the home side six minutes from time but it was disallowed for a foul but they were not to be denied for long when their long periods of second half possession finally saw them score when Andrew Harvie converted a deep cross at the back post.
The equaliser was probably only what the home side deserved as The Millers looked a tired side in the second half but one thing that they don't lack is resilience and it was that man Carlos Meakin who conjured a winner in the last minute of normal time. Fellow midfielder Mike Bowler's mishit shot from the edge of the box found Meakin unmarked six yards out and despite not getting a perfect contact with the ball, his scuffed shot was too good for Andy Speight and found the roof of the net to register New Mills's fiftieth goal of the season so far.
With leaders Newcastle maintaining their perfect start at Bootle, it is important that New Mills keep on their tails so who knows how vital that late goal might be at the end of the season.
Team - Ingram-Hughes, Taylor (Monaghan), Mather, D Jackson, Band, Bowler, Meakin, Lloyd (Turvey), Kharas, Turner (Cadwallader), Innes. Unused subs - Higginbotham ( GK ), Heffernan

Millers 7 Parkhouse 4. Derbyshire Senior Cup First Round. Mon 12th Oct 09

Millers v Parkhouse Match Photo's

An eleven goal thriller at Church Lane on Monday evening saw New Mills eventually progress into the second round of The Derbyshire Senior Cup but only after they had been taken to extra time by plucky Parkhouse FC.
The visitors, also known as The Millers, play three levels below New Mills in The Central Midlands Premier Division but it was they who took the lead in the thirteenth minute when following a corner, Danny Gee's low shot sneaked through a ruck of players to beat the unsighted Jason Astbury.
New Mills equalised just before the half hour when Danny Heffernan's shot took a big deflection to completely wrong foot Andy Thornton in the Parkhouse goal but the visitors regained the lead on the stroke of half time when captain Chris Sharman powered home a free kick from the edge of the penalty area.
Two minutes after the interval and the home side were back on level terms when Garry Kharas gained possession twenty yards from goal and then curled in a superb shot into the corner of the net. When debutant Lee Turvey beat the offside trap and coolly chipped Thornton to give New Mills the lead for the first time in the game, it looked like Parkhouse's efforts were to be in vain but they turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes, scored by Nathan Styles and Adam Smith.
The visitors remained in the lead as the clock ticked towards ninety minutes but substitute Carlos Meakin was to prove the home side's saviour when he equalised to make the score 4-4 and ensured that the game went into extra time.
Following good work by fellow substitute Mark Innes, not only did Meakin put New Mills ahead in the first half of extra time but this goal brought up a personal milestone for The Millers captain as it was his hundredth for the Club in all competitions. Five minutes into the second half of extra time, Meakin turned provider on this occasion as he laid one on a plate for Garry Kharas to make it 6-4 and to effectively end tiring Parkhouse's chances of an upset.
With a minute of the game remaining, Kharas had an opportunity to complete his hat trick when Parkhouse keeper Andy Thornton brought down Mike Bowler and a penalty kick was awarded by referee Mr Clarke. Under normal circumstances, Thornton should probably have been dismissed as he was the last man but Mr Clarke showed great common sense and allowed the keeper to remain on the field, a decision which Thornton was grateful for as he saved Kharas's resulting spot kick.
Even this was not to be the last action of the match as there was time for New Mills's seventh goal of the evening deep into injury time when Garry Kharas's shot was unluckily headed into his own net by Andy Martin.
Both sets of players were clapped from the field after they had produced an all action game for the watching spectators and particular praise was reserved for the Parkhouse team and management who put up a great fight but in the end, New Mills's superior fitness in extra time was probably the deciding factor in the tie.
Team - Astbury, Taylor, Mather, Lomax, Band, Bowler, Monaghan, Heffernan (Innes), Kharas, Turvey (Meakin), Wharton (Coleman). Unused subs - Cadwallader, Hanley

Millers 1 Colne 1. Sat 10th Oct 09

Millers v Colne Match Photo's

New Mills dropped two important points as spirited Colne grabbed a share of the spoils at Church Lane on Saturday.
Both goals came in the opening half hour of the game and there was an element of fortune in both. The Millers captain Carlos Meakin opened the scoring in the tenth minute when he tried his luck from distance and his shot beat Bobby Harris in the Colne net albeit with a sizeable deflection off Kieron Roberts.
Colne's equaliser was even more fortuitous when Mark Threlfall's shot was saved by Jason Astbury's legs but the ball bounced up and hit Peter Band who couldn't get out of the way in time and the ball bounced agonisingly into the back of the net.
After a very even first half, the home side came out all guns blazing in the opening stages of the second half and Colne keeper Harris had to make two good saves, firstly to deny Tommy Turner from close range and then by tipping over Mike Bowler's long range shot.
Harris then made the save of the game when again he denied Turner who was clean through on goal. It looked like The Millers centre forward had finally beaten the keeper until the ball just went the wrong side of the post and with the award of a corner, Harris must have got a deflection on the shot.
Despite throwing on all three substitutes to try and grab a winner, the home side could not find that elusive goal and it was the visitors who probably came the closest to claiming the three points when Paul Michael Cruz's shot was tipped away by Jason Astbury.
Team - Astbury, Taylor, Innes, D Jackson, Band, Bowler, Meakin, Cadwallader (Kharas), Turner (Turvey), Hanley (Monaghan), Heffernan. Unused subs - Higginbotham (GK), Lomax

Abbey Hey 1 Millers 7. Tues 6th Oct 09

New Mills's third consecutive league victory saw them move up to second place in the North West Counties Premier Division after a seven goal thrashing of bottom placed Abbey Hey on Tuesday evening.
Despite the day's rain and the extremely heavy downpour just before the kick off, The Abbey Stadium's pitch was in decent condition and the slick playing surface encouraged both teams but particularly The Millers to keep the ball down and play possession football.
The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute and it was debutant and Abbey Hey old boy Danny Heffernan who made the ideal start to his New Mills career. An excellent move involving Adam Mather and Tommy Turner saw the ball played out to Heffernan on the left wing. Heffernan, signed from Blue Square Premier side Altrincham last week, beat the full back, cut inside and then curled a superb shot, via the underside of the crossbar, into the top corner past the helpless Robert Jones.
Striker Cayne Hanley made a significant contribution to The Millers second goal when he worked hard to dispossess an Abbey Hey defender with an excellent tackle and after drawing the keeper, he sensibly squared the ball across the penalty area into the path of who else but Carlos Meakin who sidefooted the ball into the empty net.
New Mills held a two goal lead at half time but scored again four minutes after the interval when Danny Heffernan's cross was clinically finished by Andrew Lavendis but unfortunately for the Abbey Hey midfielder, it was into his own net.
Arguably the game's best two efforts from the visitors did not lead to goals as the crossbar was rattled twice in quick succession. Firstly Mike Bowler sweetly struck a shot from twenty five yards which beat keeper Robert Jones but unfortunately not the woodwork. Then Tommy Turner got in on the act and after seeing Jones off his line, superbly chipped the keeper from thirty yards but his effort unluckily hit the top of the bar.
The Millers were not to be denied for long though and added two further goals in a four minute spell. Their fourth goal resulted when left back Adam Mather, who had another outstanding game, swung over a deep cross and Carlos Meakin was given the freedom of the penalty area to score his second goal of the night and then Tommy Turner deservedly got his name on the scoresheet when he scored from close range following superb build up play down the right involving Matty Taylor, Peter Band and skipper Meakin who turned provider on this occasion.
Substitute Garry Kharas celebrated his century of league appearances for The Millers in the perfect manner by scoring the team's sixth goal eight minutes from time when he broke free of the tired looking Abbey Hey's defensive line to collect fellow substitute Paul Monaghan's through ball and after rounding Robert Jones, Kharas stroked the ball into an empty net from an acute angle.
Despite the scoreline, the home side to their credit never gave up and gained some reward for their efforts when substitute Sam Jones headed home but even that wasn't the last goal of the evening as in a virtual mirror image of Garry Kharas's goal, Cayne Hanley beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper before netting, a goal which not only was New Mills's seventh of the game but was already the fiftieth that Abbey Hey had conceded in the league this season.
Team - Astbury, Taylor, Mather, D Jackson, Band, Bowler, Meakin, Cadwallader (Monaghan), Turner (Kharas), Hanley, Heffernan (Innes). Unused subs - Higginbotham (GK), Lomax

Millers 3 Nelson 0. Sat 26th Sept 09

Millers v Nelson Match Photo's

An excellent performance from Nelson goalkeeper Chris Thompson couldn’t prevent New Mills taking the three points at Church Lane on Saturday afternoon.
Only fifteen seconds of the game had elapsed when Thompson was first called into action. Millers midfielder Mike Bowler capitalised on defensive hesitancy and Thompson had to be quick and alert to block the resulting shot.
Nelson gave as good as they got in the opening quarter of the game and themselves came close to opening the scoring when Lance Ogunyode played in Sam Heap, who was forced wide by the home keeper Jason Astbury. Although at an acute angle, Heap’s shot was on target but Danny Jackson had read the play well and was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
The Millers debutant Mark Cadwallader, who was signed on loan from Northwich Victoria during the week, was impressing the home fans with a fine display on the right wing and it was his cross which lead to Garry Kharas narrowly heading over at the back post.
New Mills deservedly took the lead just after the half hour when Nelson’s left back Luke Hargreaves was penned in at the corner flag and rather than playing safe and finding touch, his clearance only found Matty Taylor. Taylor’s looping cross eventually found its way to Mike Bowler who teed up Carlos Meakin and The Millers captain celebrated his hundredth league game for the club in the perfect manner by drilling the ball home from just inside the penalty area to register his tenth goal of the season.
Although beaten on that occasion, Thompson came to his side’s rescue again three minutes later when he again blocked well, this time from Cayne Hanley. Hanley was not too be denied for too long though and three minutes before half time, he doubled The Millers advantage by collecting Garry Kharas’s flick and confidently burying the chance.
It almost got worse for the visitors moments before the break when Thompson made a superb reflex save to deny Garry Kharas. Kharas himself collected the rebound and his overhead shot unluckily cannoned back off the upright and away to safety.
The home side were in complete control of the game and it was only Chris Thompson ’s agility and safe handling which prevented more goals being scored in the second half. He made particularly impressive stops from Mark Cadwallader, Carlos Meakin and substitute Andy Smith.
Garry Kharas’s efforts were finally rewarded i n stoppage time when he rose unmarked at the back post to head home his first league goal of the season and whilst New Mills probably felt slightly disappointed that further goals weren’t added such was their dominance of the game, they will have been pleased to have kept a clean sheet with the defence looking solid all game.
Team - Astbury, Taylor, Mather, D Jackson, Band, Innes, Meakin (Wharton), Bowler, Kharas, Hanley (Smith), Cadwallader (Monaghan). Unused subs - McGarry (GK), Whitehead

Ashton Athletic 1 Millers 2. Tues 22nd Sept 09

Ashton Athletic v Millers Match Photo's

Two goals scored on the stroke of full time enabled New Mills to grab victory from the jaws of defeat against Ashton Athletic on Tuesday evening.
The Millers gave a debut in goal to Jason Astbury who had finally received international clearance to play following his recent move from Welsh Premier League side Bala Town. Astbury was beaten in the eighth minute when Ashton striker Paul Prescott just nicked the ball past him but thankfully Peter Band was on hand to clear the danger as the ball trickled ever closer to the net.
The visitors spurned two gilt-edged chances to take the lead around the twenty minute mark when first Cayne Hanley was played clean through by Mike Bowler and although Ashton keeper Alan Fitzpatrick slipped on his way out to narrow the angle, the striker couldn't hit the target and put the ball wide of the far post. Then Hanley's strike partner Andy Smith found himself one-on-one with Fitzpatrick but he side footed wide of the other post.
The Millers were made to pay for those misses when shortly after unchallenged Demaine Cousins rose highest at the near post to head home a corner.
Garry Kharas replaced Andy Smith at half time and was immediately in the thick of the action. He initially linked up well with Carlos Meakin and the latter's fierce shot went narrowly over the crossbar. Kharas was then felled from behind in the area by an Athletic defender and with The Millers fans appealing for a penalty, referee Mrs Strain bizarrely penalised Kharas for handball.
A penalty kick was finally awarded fifteen minutes from time when Adam Mather was clattered by Mike Winer and this time, Mr Strain's decision was a very easy one to make. Skipper Carlos Meakin sent Alan Fitzpatrick the wrong way but unfortunately skied the ball over the goal.
Despite having the vast majority of possession in the second half, it looked like it was going to be one of those nights for New Mills but the game turned dramatically on its head in the last minute of normal time. Garry Kharas broke down the left and played the ball into the middle and following a scramble, Cayne Hanley was on hand to tuck the ball away from close range at the second attempt to register his first goal for the club since his loan move from Northwich Victoria.
Less than sixty seconds later and with normal time just about completed, Kharas again broke free down the left channel and crossed. Carlos Meakin's first effort was blocked well by keeper Fitzpatrick but his second effort somehow found its way into the net past all the Athletic defenders frantically trying to block it.
Referee Mr Strain added over six and a half minutes injury time, mostly caused by the home side's time wasting tactics and the lack of replacement match balls. In that additional period, Mr Strain found time to caution Mike Winer for a second time and this resulted in the Ashton midfielder being sent off.
Team - Astbury, Taylor, S Jackson, D Jackson (Wharton), Band, Innes (Monaghan), Meakin, Bowler, Smith (Kharas), Hanley, Mather. Unused sub - McGarry (GK)

Newcastle Town 2 Millers 0. Sat 19th Sept 09

Newcastle Town v Millers Match Photo's

Newcastle Town maintained their perfect start to their season as they defeated New Mills to record an eighth consecutive North West Counties Premier Division victory.
The visitors surprisingly included Liam Higginbotham in goal for his first taste of action since the opening game of the season at Formby and although understandably a little rusty after his lay off, Higginbotham was alert enough to block Neville Thompson’s shot in the tenth minute.
Newcastle did have the ba ll in the net in the sixteenth minute when a corner kick was headed home at the far post by Chris Boast but Higginbotham was flattened in his attempts to intercept the cross and referee Mr Howes disallowed the goal for the foul.
The two sides cancelled each other out for the majority of the opening half as both defences were largely on top but The Millers best chance came on the half hour when Garry Kharas’s flick found fellow striker Cayne Hanley with time and space in the Newcastle area albeit at a narrow angle. Hanley’s shot beat keeper Danny Read but flashed wide of the far post when maybe a little more composure was required as an effort on target would probably have resulted in the opening goal.
That opening goal was always going to be crucial in such a tight game and it was the home side who broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time when New Mills conceded a free kick wide on the right, midway in their own half. Newcastle’s Chris Boast swung the ball over where Chris Budrys headed home from a tight angle and squeezed the ball between the post and Liam Higginbotham. This was only the second goal that The Millers had conceded in the first halves of all football they had played this season but it was a vitally important one as there was barely time to kick off before the official blew up for the interval.
Matty Taylor came on as substitute for New Mills at half time and the visitors made a bright start to the second half and created two good goal scoring opportunities. Firstly Adam Mather hooked a right foot shot narrowly wide and then midfielder Mark Innes went even closer. Carlos Meakin, who played in an unfamiliar position as sweeper, threaded a pinpoint pass through to Innes who just managed to nick the ball past the onrush ing Town keeper Danny Read but the ball agonisingly went the wrong side of the post and hit the side netting.
Newcastle had posed very little threat to New Mills’s goal in the second half but with twelve minutes remaining, they scored with their first real effort of the second half. The visitors conceded a needless free kick about twenty yards from goal from which left back Jonathon Sheldon curled the ball around the defensive wall and into the corner of the net.
The Millers miserable afternoon was rounded off when substitute Nathan Wharton, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, was sent off for bringing down Newcastle’s Jordan Johnson when he was clear on goal and with Wharton being the last man, the referee was left with little alternative but to show him the red card.
Team – Higginbotham, Whitehead (Taylor), Mather, Smith (Wharton), D Jackson, Band, Meakin, Bowler, Kharas (Monaghan), Hanley, Innes. Unused subs – Arnold (GK), S Jackson

Millers 3 Flixton 3. Mon 12th Sept 09

Millers v Flixton Match Photo's

A Carlos Meakin penalty two minutes from time salvaged a point for New Mills after a stirring second half comeback by Flixton threatened an upset at Church Lane on Monday evening.
Both teams started with a quick tempo and the visitors, who were buoyed by a five goal victory against Ashton Athletic at the weekend, had the first effort on target in the second minute when Andy Keogh tried his luck from distance but New Mills keeper Richard McGarry was equal to the task and collected well. Sixty seconds later, an almost identical incident at the other end saw Andy Smith sting the palms of Flixton's James Jowsey and the keeper was then alert enough to collect the rebound just in front of Garry Kharas.
Possibly against the run of the play, The Millers quickly scored two excellent goals around the quarter hour mark. Firstly, a one touch passing move down the right flank involving Matty Taylor, Mark Innes and Carlos Meakin saw the ball played into the path of Andy Smith who buried his shot low past Jowsey into the far corner of the net. No more than a minute later, Adam Mather playing in a more advanced role, collected the ball twenty five yards out. Now even he admits that his right foot is generally just for standing on but on this occasion, his right foot connected beautifully with the ball and it arrowed into the top corner past the helpless Jowsey. The two goals scored were completely different but both equally as effective.
For the remainder of the half, Flixton continued to play neat, attractive football but their finishing didn't match their build up play as they operated a shoot on sight policy and this lead to to many shots from thirty yards, some from even farther, sailing high wide and handsome of Richard McGarry's goal.
Flixton's manager Lloyd Morrison changed their playing system to a more attacking formation at the interval and this paid dividends nine minutes into the second half. Referee Mr Benton, who was extremely whistle happy throughout the entire game, awarded a penalty when full back Matty Taylor fouled ex New Mills player Brian Matthews right on the dead ball line and even though there were very few shouts from both players and dug out alike, the spot kick was duly given from which Chris Smith sent McGarry the wrong way.
Ten minutes later, The Millers thought they had restored their two goal advantage when substitute Cayne Hanley was far too quick for for full back Luke Scarry and broke clear down the right. His square ball found the unmarked Garry Kharas who comfortably netted but the assistant referee deemed Kharas to have been in an offside position and the goal was disallowed.
The visitors deservedly equalised with seventeen minutes of the match remaining when substitute Carl Carey's cross was neatly converted at the near post by Chris Smith and it was Smith again who completed his second hat trick in three days when he again was too quick for The Millers defence as he nipped in to add the vital touch which completed Flixton's comeback.
With the home side looking a beaten side, referee Benton gave them a lifeline with just two minutes remaining when Mike Bowler was tripped in the area and the official once again pointed to the spot. The decision looked a fair one from afar but the New Mills fans closer to the incident suggested that the tackle had been a clean one and that the award was a poor one. Nonetheless, the decision stood and up strode Carlos Meakin to send James Jowsey the wrong way to grab a vital point for The Millers.
Flixton can count themselves slightly unlucky not to have left with all three points after producing an excellent all round performance and whilst New Mills will be disappointed to drop two points at home, who knows how important that late goal will be at the end of the season.
Team - McGarry, Taylor (Band), Wharton, Ryan, D Jackson, Innes (Hanley), Meakin, Bowler, Kharas, Smith (Whitehead), Mather. Unused sub - Fidler (GK)

Millers 4 Formby 0. Sat 12th Sept 09

Millers v Formby Match Photo's

New Mills cruised to three points as they overpowered Formby to record their first North West Counties League double of the season at a gloriously sunny Church Lane on Saturday.
The Millers, who included debutants Richard McGarry in goal and striker Cayne Hanley amongst the substitutes, dominated the game from the opening whistle and Tommy Turner very nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he controlled Carlos Meakin’s cross well, steadied himself and his shot appeared to heading into the goal until Formby defender Paddy O’Driscoll superbly flung himself at the ball and somehow deflected the ball over the crossbar.
This only turned out to be a brief reprieve for the visitors as New Mills took the lead two minutes later. Millers full back Shaun Whitehead started the move with a good, strong defensive header and some good interlink play through the midfield saw the ball played into skipper Carlos Meakin whose low angled drive from twenty yards was too powerful for keeper Adam Judge who was well beaten as the ball found the net via the inside of the left hand upright.
Six minutes later and the home side doubled their lead when midfielder Mike Bowler rose highest at the near post and headed Nathan Wharton’s corner into the net, again via the left hand post.
Formby’s best chance of the first half and maybe in the entire ninety minutes, came midway through the first half when David Thompson’s shot unluckily hit the angle of post and crossbar but virtually straight away, back came The Millers and they themselves hit the upright not once but twice in the same incident. Superb football down the right involving Andy Smith and Carlos Meakin saw the ball eventually crossed to Tommy Turner who again did everything nearly right as his shot beat keeper Judge but the ball hit the crossbar and then hit the post and somehow didn’t cross the line before being hacked clear of danger.
The part of the post which had assisted with the home side’s opening goals then finally turned against them as Andy Smith’s powerful shot from the distance, which looked a goal all the way, hit the inside of the left hand upright and rebounded across the face of the goal with no New Mills player on hand to turn the ball home. This proved to be the last goal scoring chance of the first half and the visitors must have counted themselves extremely lucky to have only been trailing by two goals at the interval.
Within the first ten minutes of the second half, Millers manager Tony Hancock had used his three allotted substitutes as Nathan Wharton, Andy Smith and Shaun Whitehead were withdrawn probably with Monday night’s home game against Flixton in mind.
Again the woodwork came to the visitors rescue when Carlos Meakin’s looping header hit the top of the crossbar and bounced down the wrong side of the net but just after the hour, another header this time from centre half Micky Ryan, found the bottom corner of the net to effectively kill the game off.
With defeat now inevitable, Formby started to show their frustration and started to get physical and a series of niggling fouls and poor tackles were not properly dealt with by referee Mr Tyas but the official was left with little alternative but to award the home side a spot kick in the sixty eighth minute when Carlos Meakin was clattered in the penalty area by substitute Jay McKane. Meakin dusted himself down and although Adam Judge saved the initial kick, the rebound ran kindly back to Meakin who this time made no mistake from close range.
Formby continued with their over physical attitude and centre half Neil Roberts could count himself lucky to have stayed on the pitch when he appeared to raise his hands into Carlos Meakin’s face and although the incident was seen by the assistant referee, Mr Tyas maybe leniently only showed Roberts a yellow card.
The Millers played the last few minutes with ten men as striker Garry Kharas left the field with blood pouring from his mouth after an aerial challenge knocked out one of his front teeth.
This victory sees The Millers remain in fourth position in the Premier Division after recording a twentieth home win out of twenty one games in all competitions with the only blemish being the early season defeat against Runcorn Linnets.
Team – McGarry, Whitehead (Taylor), Mather, Ryan, Band, Bowler, Meakin, Smith (Hanley), Kharas, Turner, Wharton (D Jackson). Unused sub – Fidler (GK)

Silsden 0 Millers 2. Sat 5th Sept 09

Silsden v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills climbed up to fourth place in The North West Counties Premier Division after their best forty five minutes of the season so far helped them gain a deserved three points in West Yorkshire on Saturday.
The Millers welcomed back captain Carlos Meakin from holiday and Nathan Wharton from injury to their starting line up and there was also a place amongst the substitutes for fans favourite Matty Taylor who re-signed for the club last week after a short break from the game.
Silsden play their home games at Keighley Cougars rugby stadium and the playing surface isn’t particularly suited to the beautiful game but The Millers, who played uphill and against the blustery wind in the first half, had the first goalscoring opportunity of the afternoon in the tenth minute when Tommy Turner and Garry Kharas linked up well and eventually it was Nathan Wharton who shot but home keeper Gavin Phillis saved well.
Silsden, who were level on points with New Mills at the start of the game, attacked for the first time shortly after and a cross from Rob Morgan was just too high for centre half Martin Bland who headed wide at the back post.
The visitors, with Mike Bowler and Mark Innes particularly impressing in midfield, were controlling the game and it was only a last ditch clearance from Shaun Airey which prevented Garry Kharas from scoring. It was only a brief respite for Silsden as the resulting corner brought the opening goal of the afternoon albeit with a touch of controversy. Nathan Wharton’s set piece was flicked towards goal by Carlos Meakin but his effort hit Martin Bland’s arm and referee Mr Waters somewhat dubiously penalised Silsden’s skipper for handball. After a lengthy delay whilst the home side argued the decision, it was the composed Meakin who confidently scored from the spot to register his ninetieth goal for the club. Maybe the decision was slightly fortunate but The Millers fans present were quick to remember the previous week’s FA Cup tie against Carlton Town when a poor decision not to award them a penalty cost them a potential replay.
The goal, no matter how it occurred, was no more than New Mills deserved and sixty seconds later, Andy Smith very nearly doubled the lead but yet another last ditch tackle denied him. The lead was eventually extended three minutes before the half time break when a blocked shot fell kindly to Nathan Wharton on the edge of the area. Silsden’s keeper Gavin Phillis was partially unsighted with a crowd of players in front of him and was therefore helpless to prevent Wharton’s shot finding the corner of the net.
Phillis undoubtedly kept his side in the game a minute later though when he superbly tipped Mike Bowler’s volley onto the crossbar. Bowler, who had an all action first half, then tried a spectacular overhead kick which flew inches over the upright.
If anything, the wind seemed to pick up even more during the interval and quite noticeably affected the game in the second half as both teams struggled to deal with it. The home side very rarely threatened Chris Fidler’s goal in the first half but livened up a little after the break and just after the hour mark, a dangerous right wing cross was crucially intercepted by right back Shaun Whitehead.
Tommy Turner, who had an unusually quiet afternoon, by his usual standards, had probably The Millers best chance of the second half when he finally managed to break free from his marker and broke through the left channel. As he opened his body up to shoot, the ball seemed to get stuck in the turf and he shanked his shot but Andy Smith picked up the ball in space and he couldn't quite find the killer ball across the Silsden goal.
In the latter stages of the game, New Mills keeper Chris Fidler, who was well protected by his defence all game, made two excellent saves to deny Chris Simpson and Kevin Ryan to maintain his clean sheet.
Whilst their second half performance was workmanlike, The Millers deservedly went away with the three points after their efforts in the first half where the central midfield duo of Mike Bowler and Mark Innes were splendid and laid the platform for the all important victory.
Team – Fidler, Whitehead, Mather, Smith, Band, Innes, Meakin, Bowler, Kharas, Turner (Robinson), Wharton (Taylor). Unused subs – Arnold (GK), Flowers, Ryan

Carlton Town 4 Millers 2. Sat 29th Aug 09. FA Cup Preliminary Round

Carlton Town v Millers Match Photo's

Saturday’s Battle Of The Millers saw Nottinghamshire based Unibond League South side Carlton Town proceed into the next round of The FA Cup as four second half goals helped them to defeat New Mills.
The visitors made a bright and positive start to the game and the game’s first chance fell to striker Tommy Turner whose stinging shot from outside the box, which seemed to move quite considerably in the air, was well palmed away by Carlton’s goalkeeper Alessandro Barcherini.
Even in the early stages of the game, referee Mr Earl and his extremely youthful looking assistants were baffling both New Mills’s players and supporters alike with a series of inconsistent decisions, of which a significant number were given against the visitors when it appeared that the home side were the aggressors.
Nevertheless, New Mills kept their cool and continued to press and ten minutes before half time, they had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when Tommy Turner out muscled a Carlton defender and was clean through on goal. The Millers supporters who made up the vast majority of the crowd, were fully expecting the in-form Turner to bury the chance but with only keeper Barcherini to beat, he failed to hit the target.
The last five minutes of the first half saw the visitors create two further chances. Firstly Turner’s fellow striker Garry Kharas failed to capitalise on an excellent free kick by Jon Robinson and headed over and then skipper Micky Ryan turned and shot inches wide of the post with Barcherini a spectator in the Carlton goal. In fact Barcherini’s opposite number Chris Fidler made his solitary save of the first half when he tipped over a free kick from the edge of the area which proved to be the last kick of the opening forty five minutes.
Carlton manager Tommy Brookbanks made two attacking substitutions at half time to try and change the direction of the game and Tony Hancock matched this by making a double change himself eight minutes into the second half. Surprisingly centre half Peter Band, who arguably had been New Mills’s best performer up to that point, was one of the players to be replaced and this seemed to upset the visitors shape and rhythm as the home side started to look a real threat up front.
Carlton took the lead just after the hour but required a huge slice of luck in doing so when substitute Justin Jenkins speculative effort took a massive deflection off Craig Flowers and totally wrong-footed Chris Fidler in the New Mills goal. The home side’s other half time substitute Steve Chaplin also scored three minutes later when he sidefooted home Daniel Fletcher’s left wing cross.
Back came New Mills though as Garry Kharas scored the best goal of the game when he superbly fired home from the edge of the area but within sixty seconds, the home side had restored their two goal advantage when Daniel Blair was given the freedom of the penalty area to head home.
To cap a crazy ten minute spell, New Mills and Kharas reduced the arrears again when he burst through the Carlton defence and kept his composure to slot home from close range.
New Mills were back in the game and but for a controversial decision by referee Mr Earl seven minutes from time, could have been on level terms when Tommy Turner was dragged down in the penalty area by a Carlton defender. With the defender being the last man, a red card possibly would have followed but in his infinite wisdom, Mr Earl, who received no help from his assistant, somehow decided to play on and ignored what looked like a stonewall penalty. To rub salt into the wound, Daniel Fletcher made the game safe for the home side in the last minute when he fired a left foot shot into the bottom corner.
Whilst disappointing to go out of The FA Cup and therefore missing out on valuable prize money, New Mills were far from disgraced against higher level opposition and but for some poor defending and refereeing in the second half, they may well have secured a replay their efforts, particularly in the first half, merited.
Team – Fidler, Flowers, Mather, Ryan, Band (Smith), D Jackson, Bowler (Shaw), Innes, Kharas, Turner, Robinson (Tandy). Unused subs – Arnold, Whitehead

Millers 3 Abbey Hey 1. Mon 24th Aug 09

Millers v Abbey Hey Match Photo's

New Mills secured back to back North West Counties Premier Division wins for the first time this season after defeating plucky Abbey Hey 3-1 at Church Lane on Monday evening.
The Millers seemingly never ending early season injury curse struck again in the pre match warm up when centre half Micky Lomax, who was outstanding in Saturday's victory against Bacup, pulled his groin and was replaced by Peter Band in the starting line up. Also in the starting eleven was debutant Mike Bowler, who had signed from Stalybridge Celtic earlier in the day, and it was the midfielder who made the perfect start to his New Mills career when he opened the scoring in only the second minute. The vast majority of the healthy crowd of 216 probably didn't care whether his effort from the right touchline was meant as a shot or a cross, all that mattered was that the ball beat goalkeeper Craig Ellison and found the back of the net via the post.
Abbey Hey, who arrived pointless after three successive Premier Division defeats, belied their bottom placed position by playing some neat attractive football on a playing surface which had been slickened up by the afternoon rain. In fact it was the visitors who created the next chance when Michael Brown let fly from distance and his effort was only marginally wide of the target with Millers keeper Kyle Clancy looking beaten.
The home side always looked dangerous in attack with the pace and power of skipper for the night Garry Kharas and Tommy Turner proving a constant handful for the Abbey Hey defence and it was Kharas who looked like he had increased their lead in the twenty seventh minute. Superb build up play between Mike Bowler, Andy Smith and Craig Flowers saw Flowers play a dangerous ball across the face of the goal where Kharas seemingly got a decisive touch to the ball. Everybody expected a goal to follow but somehow the ball failed to cross the line and after a mad scramble, the defenders managed to clear the ball from danger.
That escape was only short lived however when ten minutes before half time, Smith and Flowers linked up well again down the right but this time the ball found the in-form Tommy Turner on the edge of the penalty area who cut inside the defender and clinically found the bottom corner of the net.
Garry Kharas had a good opportunity to kill off the game three minutes after the interval when he was played in by Jamie Tandy but Abbey Hey's keeper Craig Ellison stood tall to block and for the next part of the game, the home side appeared to sit back on their lead as they started to defend too deeply. This encouraged the visitors to press forward and Wayne Welbeck and Danny Heffernan both went close before Welbeck. the younger brother of Manchester United's Danny, reduced the arrears in strange circumstances with twenty minutes remaining.
It looked like time had stood still in the heart of the home defence as they waited for the referee's whistle to blow but nothing materialised and Welbeck was on hand to tap the ball home from close range. It only became clear after the game that The Millers defenders were appealing for offside against an Abbey Hey attacker who flicked the ball to Welbeck but the linesman on the far side of the pitch claimed never to have seen the important touch and therefore had no option but to let the goal stand.
This setback seemed to sp ur the home side back into action and they created three goal scoring opportunities in as many minutes. The best of these fell to newcomer Bowler who was played in by Tommy Turner but from eight yards, he hit the top of the crossbar when he probably should have opted for precision rather than power.
It was left to Turner to seal the three points for The Millers when with eight minutes remaining, his pace enabled him to collect Peter Band's defensive clearance and he again found the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy to score his fourth goal of the week.
Team - Clancy, Flowers, Mather, D Jackson, Band, Robinson, Smith ( Whitehead ), Bowler ( Shaw ), Kharas, Turner, Tandy. Unused subs - Fidler, Kennedy, Whelan

Millers 2 Bacup Borough 0. Sat 22nd Aug 09

Millers v Bacup Borough Match Photo's

A brace of well taken goals from centre forward Tommy Turner helped his new club defeat his old club at Church Lane on Saturday.
Bacup, who had a 100% League record coming into this game, were fortunate not to concede a goal in the tenth minute when Garry Kharas capitalised on hesitancy between goalkeeper Ashley Timms and Portuguese centre half Djanco Braima to nip in between them but his effort unluckily hit the post.
Bacup's neat passing and movement showed why they had had such a good start to their season and Warren Collier and Steve Smith both had decent goalscoring opportunities but found Millers keeper Kyle Clancy in good form and hard to beat.
Five minutes before half time, the home side's Jon Robinson crossed a quick free kick towards Carlos Meakin, his header back across goal found Garry Kharas whose shot was excellently pushed away by Timms. The resulting corner was cleared from immediate danger but when the ball was played back into the feet of Tommy Turner at the edge of the penalty area, he literally made a goal out of nothing by twisting and shooting in one movement and the powerful shot gave keeper Timms absolutely no chance.
Turner was inches away from a second goal seven minutes after the interval when Jamie Tandy ran three quarters of the length of the pitch and his left wing cross found Turner whose shot again beat Timms but this time a Bacup defender was on hand to kick the ball off the goal line.
The Millers had a stranglehold of the game at this point but couldn't kill off Bacup with a second goal. Another left wing cross this time from Adam Mather found an unmarked Garry Kharas whose diving header hit the top of the crossbar and then Kharas turned provider by dispossessing Bacup defender Matthew Hampson. His square ball found Turner whose shot was superbly tipped around the post by Timms.
Bacup wouldn't lie down however and had an excellent chance to equalise when Millers right back Craig Flowers didn't clear his lines properly and Steve Smith was left with time and space to shoot and whilst it will go down as a splendid reflex save by Kyle Clancy, the keeper knew very little about it as the ball struck him full in the face.
The home defence lead by strong performances by Micky Lomax and Adam Mather were proving very hard to break down. Bacup probably edged territorial possession during the latter stages of the game but they could not really convert this into meaningful goal scoring chances. Whereas The Millers strike force of Kharas and Turner were a handful all afternoon with their power and pace constantly troubling the Bacup back line and it was fitting that Turner finished proceedings deep into injury time when he got the better of Timms again and accurately found the empty net from a narrow angle to register his third goal of the week.
Team - Clancy, Flowers, Mather, Ryan (D Jackson), Lomax, Tandy (Shaw), Brackenridge (Smith), Meakin, Kharas, Turner, Robinson. Unused subs - Band, Arnold

Congleton Town 2 Millers 2. Tues 18th Aug 09

Congleton Town v Millers Match Photo's

An equaliser deep into stoppage time ensured that New Mills grabbed a share of the spoils with Congleton Town in what was an excellent game and advert for The North West Counties Premier Division.
Both sides created good goalscoring opportunities in the early stages of the game but New Mills skipper Carlos Meakin dragged a shot just wide of the upright and Town's Andy Hurst failed to connect properly when well situated in front of goal. Congleton's keeper Matt Conkie then produced an excellent save to tip over Jon Robinson's shot which appeared to be dipping under his crossbar. In fact, Conkie's overall display in the first half was exemplary as he thwarted the visitors attack on numerous occasions especially with his clean handling under pressure.
The last chance of a very even opening half fell to Millers striker Tommy Turner whose pace enabled him to collect Jon Robinson's pass but his shot just lacked the necessary power to beat Conkie.
Again it was Turner's pace which nearly broke the deadlock ten minutes after the interval when he intercepted a back pass but despite rounding keeper Conkie, the narrow angle proved too much, resulting in his shot being played across the face of the goal and cleared from danger.
The Millers started the second half very positively and it was therefore slightly surprising that it was Congleton who took the lead in the sixty fifth minute although there was an element of luck involved in the goal. Substitute Sean Dundas's speculative shot from distance took a wicked deflection of a New Mills defender and the ball looped agonisingly over the helpless Kyle Clancy and into the net.
This lead to the visitors introducing Steve Brackenridge from the bench and he immediately created a chance from which Garry Kharas's powerful header was only denied by another magnificent fingertip save from Matt Conkie. It looked like it was going to be one of those nights for New Mills when moments later, a needless free kick was conceded on the right wing and Dundas got his head to the cross to score his second goal of the evening.
It appeared as though that was the end of the road for The Millers but they showed their spirit and resilience and grabbed a vital lifeline when with seven minutes remaining, Tommy Turner got the goal his overall performance merited when he pounced on a loose ball in the area and clinically found the bottom corner.
Town thought they had wrapped the game and the three points up with normal time ticking away when Andy Hurst netted a rebound from a free kick but he was denied by the assistant referee's flag. This proved a crucial decision when four minutes into injury time, Peter Band celebrated his fiftieth game for New Mills by rising highest at the back post to head the ball over Matt Conkie who despite getting a touch on it, couldn't prevent the ball from crossing the line.
Team - Clancy, Whitehead, Mather, D Jackson, Band, Wharton (Shaw), Meakin, Robinson (Brackenridge), Kharas, Turner, Tandy (Smith). Unused subs - Fidler, Lomax

Bottesford Town 1 Millers 5. Sat 15th Aug 09. FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Bottesford Town v Millers Match Photo's

A clinical second half performance helped New Mills to overcome Lincolnshire’s Bottesford Town and ensure their safe passage into the next round of The FA Cup.
Despite the season being only two weeks old and due to a catalogue of injuries, The Millers remarkably fielded their fourth goalkeeper of the campaign with youth team keeper George Arnold making his full competitive debut and it was he who prevented the home side from taking an early lead when he saved well from a close range shot in only the second minute.
The game burst into life in the twentieth minute when a well rehearsed corner routine saw New Mills take the lead. Nathan Wharton’s short corner found Micky Ryan who delivered an inch perfect cross into the six yard box where captain Carlos Meakin was hand to glance home his fourth goal of the season.
Almost immediately from the kick off, Bottesford nearly equalised when Luke Clifford’s long range shot went narrowly past the upright but then only a minute later, the home side were extremely fortunate not to concede again when Jon Robinson’s cross from the left appeared to be heading to the unmarked Garry Kharas at the back post. Bottesford defender Dan Hope knew that he had to somehow defend the cross but his clearance which was heading goalwards,fortuitously hit the completely unaware keeper Adam Nicholson and the ball was eventually scrambled to safety.
The Millers did score a second goal three minutes after the break when the home side were again undone by another clever corner routine. Nathan Wharton’s delivery was flicked on by Garry Kharas and the ball fell kindly to Micky Ryan who made no mistake from eight yards.
Kharas himself deservedly got on the score sheet in the fifty fourth minute when he ended a flowing move involving Steve Brackenridge, Craig Flowers and Carlos Meakin. Meakin’s cross found Kharas whose header thumped the top of the crossbar but the rebound looped directly back to him and with keeper Nicholson out of position, Kharas had the simple task of scoring into an empty net.
The home side grabbed a lifeline with fifteen minutes to go when Tim Lowe curled a superb free kick into the top corner from twenty five yards but with their superior fitness clearly showing in the latter stages, The Millers ensured that there would be no comeback as they completed the scoring with the best two goals of the afternoon.
Firstly Nathan Wharton, who was arguably the visitors best player, picked up the ball just outside Bottesford’s penalty area, easily rode a defender’s challenge and then steadied himself before beautifully sidefooting the ball into the corner of the net.
With two minutes of the game remaining, substitute Andy Smith wrapped up proceedings with an almost identical goal which saw him superbly pass the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
The Millers are on their travels again in the next round of the competition when they face Unibond South side Carlton Town, based near Nottingham, on Saturday 29th August.
Team – Arnold, Flowers, Mather, Ryan ( Lomax ) , Band, Wharton, Meakin, Brackenridge, Kharas, Turner ( Smith ), Robinson ( Tandy ). Unused subs – Fidler, Shaw

Millers 3 Runcorn 5. Mon 10th Aug 09

Millers v Runcorn Match Photo's

An incident packed game at Church Lane on Monday evening saw Runcorn Linnets defeat New Mills in an eight goal thriller.
With regular goalkeeper Liam Higginbotham out of action for the foreseeable future with a knee injury picked up in Saturday's victory against Formby, The Millers gave a debut in nets to Kyle Clancy signed from Northwich Victoria but it didn't take too long for their injury jinx to strike again. In the tenth minute, midfielder Mark Innes went in for a tackle with an opposing player and whilst there was no certainly malice intended from either man, Innes came off the worst and was in immediate distress. After a lengthy delay to the game, he was eventually carried from the field and departed the ground shortly after in an ambulance which would take him to hospital for a precautionary x-ray on a very badly swollen ankle.
The visitors who had looked very lively up front in the early stages of the games, took the lead in the twenty sixth minute when centre half Danny Jackson's back pass was seized upon by Paul Crewe who curled the ball past debutant Clancy.
In a dramatic ending to the first half, The Millers used the extra time caused by Mark Innes's injury to score two goals in added-on time. Firstly Carlos Meakin rose highest at the near post to head home Jon Robinson's corner and then the game was turned completely on its head when good build up play down the left saw Robinson again cross to Meakin whose header was this time cleared off the line but Tommy Turner was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.
The current injury curse hanging over New Mills goalkeepers continued at half time when Kyle Clancy was forced to withdraw with a dead leg picked up during a first half collision. Substitute Chris Fidler took his place and he certainly wouldn't have expected to face two penalties within the first nine minutes of the second half. Referee Mr Astley decided to penalise Danny Jackson on two separate occasions, with the first decision being particularly questionable. Nonetheless, Paul Crewe converted both spot kicks to complete not only his hat trick but a crazy eleven minute spell either side of half time which produced four goals.
The Millers wouldn't lie down and again fought back when just short of the hour, Andy Smith's right wing cross found skipper Carlos Meakin who scored his second goal of the evening from close range and then Tommy Turner very nearly scored his second but his effort bounced off the top of the crossbar.
The game was there to be won by either side but the home side's defensive frailties were once again crucially exposed with ten minutes to go. A long punt upfield wasn't properly cleared and substitute Michael Howarth stole in to score and then to rub salt into The Millers wounds, referee Mr Astley amazingly awarded the Linnets a third penalty in the final minute which Crewe again successfully converted to register a unique hat trick as well as bagging his fourth of the game.
Whilst the home fans will undoubtedly wish to see better defensive play from their team and certainly a far more consistent performance by the match officials, they will hope that the entertainment served up in this opening home game is a sign of things to come for the remaining Church Lane fixtures.
Team - Clancy ( Fidler ), Whitehead, Mather, D Jackson ( Kharas ), Lomax, Shaw, Meakin, Innes ( Wharton ), Smith, Turner, Robinson. Unused subs - Brackenridge, Band

Formby 0 Millers 1. Sat 8th Aug 09

Formby v Millers Match Photo's

New Mills’s North West Counties Premier Division League season started with a single goal victory at a gloriously sunny Altcar Road on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers fielded five of their new signings in the starting line up and it was one of these, striker Tommy Turner, who very nearly scored in the opening ninety seconds of the game. In trying to break up an attack, Formby’s keeper Adam Judge came r acing out of his area and headed the ball away but only straight to Turner, who steadied himself before narrowly side footing the ball the wrong side of the post.
The visitors suffered a major blow on twenty minutes when goalkeeper Liam Higginbotham collapsed in agony after innocuously throwing the ball out and it was obvious that something serious had happened. Following a nine minute delay, Higginbotham was stretchered from the pitch and it is hoped that the early diagnosis of cruciate knee ligament damage proves to be incorrect. Ironically, Higginbotham was replaced by substitute keeper Chris Fidler who himself was making his comeback appearance after recovering from the very same injury.
Formby created their best chance just after the half hour when following good play down the right, Carl Gornell broke clear of the defence but his square ball was played behind the onrushing attackers and the chance had gone. The remainder of the first half was very much a stop start affair as the flow of the game was constantly broken by referee Mr McDonald's whistle and the game remained goalless at the interval.
New Mills manager Tony Hancock made a tactical substitution at half time when Nathan Wharton replaced Steve Brackenridge and it paid immediate dividends three minutes into the second half. The home side seemed to get the run of every 50/50 ball in the first half but crucially on this occasion, a ricochet from Garry Kharas's knee fell kindly into the path of captain Carlos Meakin who in customary style drove through the Formby defence and slotted the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
When referee Mr McDonald awarded The Millers a free kick right out on the touchline ten minutes later, it appeared as though the culprit Michael Young was about to receive his second yellow card of the afternoon but having reached for his notebook and pencil, the official had a sudden change of heart and let Young continue.
Despite the heavy investment into the general facilities at Altcar Road and the very noticeable improvement in the pitch, passing football was at times difficult on the slightly uneven surface and with this in mind, it was no surprise that free kicks very nearly brought further goals. Carlos Meakin, with the possible aid of a fingertip from Formby keeper Adam Judge, was only denied his second goal of the afternoon by the underside of the crossbar and down at the other end, a floated set piece caught out Chris Fidler but thankfully a New Mills defender was on hand to scramble the ball away from the goal line.
This game was almost identical to the one played between the two teams at Formby last season where the first goal was always going to decide the outcome and for the second year running, The Millers secured the victory and a clean sheet which is pretty much all you can ask for on the first day of the season especially with the players having to contend with the sweltering weather conditions.
Team – Higginbotham ( Fidler ), Whitehead, Mather, D Jackson, Lomax, Brackenridge ( Wharton ), Meakin, Innes, Kharas ( Smith ), Turner, Robinson. Unused subs – Band, Shaw

Pre Season Friendly. Trafford 3 New Mills 0. Tues 4th Aug 09

New Mills's pre season ended in disappointing fashion as Trafford ran out comfortable victors at Shawe View on Tuesday evening.
The Millers starting line up included Nathan Wharton for the first time this season but Micky Ryan was a late withdrawal after suffering a leg injury in the warm up and he was replaced by John Robinson.
Both goalkeepers, Tom Read and George Arnold, made some decent saves in the first half but it was only the home side's wayward finishing that saw the game remain goalless at the interval.
Trafford, who fielded ex New Mills players Melford Knight and Shaun Roscoe, took the lead two minutes into the second half when Scott Metcalfe's long range strike left George Arnold helpless. Similar strikes from substitutes Danny White and Kyle Harrop wrapped up victory for The Unibond League side.
Team - Arnold, Whitehead, Mather, Robinson, Band, Innes, Meakin, Wharton, Kharas, Smith, Brackenridge. Subs ( all used ) - Shaw, Turner, Lomax, Flowers

Pre Season Friendly. New Mills 2 Radcliffe Borough 2. Sat 1st Aug 09

New Mills and Unibond League North side Radcliffe Borough played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at a wet Church Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Millers took the lead in only the fourth minute when an early corner was cleared only to Joe Shaw and his resulting cross found captain Carlos Meakin who beat a Borough defender to hook the ball into the bottom corner.
The home side were good value for their lead in the early stages of the game and it was slightly surprising that Radcliffe scored the next goal when Ben Wharton's long distance shot fizzed off the slick surface to beat George Arnold's despairing dive.
Impressive new signing Tommy Turner regained the lead for The Millers just after the half hour when he controlled the ball well and shot past keeper Phil Priestley and whilst Radcliffe defender Martyn Forrest valiantly tried to clear the ball and got the final touch, there's no doubt that Turner was claiming the goal.
Radcliffe keeper Priestley made an outstanding save when he finger tipped Joe Shaw's twenty five yard effort onto the crossbar in the final minute of the first half.
The visitors equalised six minutes after the interval when a defensive mix up
left George Arnold in no man's land and Ben Wharton had a simple task of heading the ball into an unguarded net for his second goal of the afternoon.
Ten minutes from time, Radcliffe’s Andy Barlow was invited to leave the pitch by referee Mr Lamb following an altercation with home keeper Arnold and it was the visitors who came closest to snatching a winner when substitute Ben Manning hit the inside of the post but ultimately a draw was probably the right result.
Team – Arnold, Whitehead, Lomax, Ryan, D Jackson, Shaw, Meakin, Innes, Kharas, Turner, Robinson. Subs – Smith, Flowers, Band, S Jackson, Bunting

Pre Season Friendly. Woodley Sports 2 New Mills 3. Tues 28th July 09

Match Photo's

New Mills's pre season continued with an excellent comeback victory against Unibond League North side Woodley Sports on Tuesday evening. Woodley took the lead in the sixth minute when The Millers conceded a free kick twenty five yards from their goal and they were made to pay when striker Gavin Salmon superbly struck the ball into the bottom corner.
The Millers thought they had equalised in the nineteenth minute when excellent link up play between Shaun Whitehead and Carlos Meakin saw the ball crossed to Tommy Turner who expertly converted the chance but was deemed to have been in an offside position by the assistant referee.
Despite the " summer " weather conditions, both teams were playing some good passing football in a game played on Woodley's 3G artificial surface. Again, it was the visitors who were unlucky when moments before half time, Joe Shaw's corner found Micky Ryan whose effort hit the inside of the post and somehow didn't cross the goal-line.
Woodley doubled their lead two minutes after the restart when New Mills keeper George Arnold brought down an attacker in the area and up strode Salmon to score his second goal of the evening from the spot.
The Millers were finally rewarded for their efforts shortly after when substitute Garry Kharas's initial shot was blocked by the home keeper but Carlos Meakin was on hand to crash the rebound into the roof of the net.
Another borderline offside decision prevented Carlos from celebrating a quick double but he wasn't to be denied for much longer when twenty minutes from time, Steve Brackenridge's quality free kick found Meakin unmarked in the area and he glanced home the equaliser.
The visitors secured a win their overall play deserved in the last minute when Woodley's keeper couldn't hold a long range effort by Brackenridge and Garry Kharas followed up like all good strikers should to net the rebound.
Team - Arnold, Whitehead, S Jackson, Ryan, Band, Shaw, Meakin, Mather, Smith, Turner, Robinson.Subs used - Flowers, Lomax, D Jackson, Brackenridge, Kharas.Unused sub - Bunting

Pre Season Friendly. Northwich Victoria 0 New Mills 3. Weds 22nd July 09

This extra friendly, which was hastily arranged following the postponement of Saturday's scheduled game against Oldham Athletic, saw The Millers secure their first victory of the new season at the impressive Marston's Arena.
Northwich, fielding a team of fringe first team players and trialists, created the first opportunity of the game but George Arnold, deputising in goal for the injured Liam Higginbotham, saved well from Kwame Barnet and the follow up was superbly blocked by Danny Jackson.
The visitors took the lead on the twentieth minute when a cross by John Robinson from the left evaded everybody including Vics keeper Kyle Clancy and the ball found the corner of the net.
Whilst there was an element of luck about the opener, the two goals that followed were the complete opposite. Just before the half hour, Steve Brackenridge delivered a great ball from the right and Tommy Turner opened his account for The Millers with a powerful header which went in via the underside of the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Turner scored his second goal of the evening when again he linked up well with Brackenridge but this time, he found the net from just inside the penalty area with a delightful chip over the helpless Vics keeper.
The second half saw both sides make the the customary large number of substitutions but despite the changes, the visitors defence remained solid throughout and great credit should go to George Arnold who kept a clean sheet on his full first team debut.
Team - Arnold, Whitehead, Mather, Ryan, D Jackson, Shaw, Brackenridge, Innes, Smith, Turner, Robinson. Subs ( all used ) - Lomax, Band, S Jackson, Flowers, Nadin

Pre Season Friendly New Mills 1 Matlock Town 2 Mon 20th July 09

Forty eight hours later than originally scheduled, New Mills's 2009/10 campaign finally got underway with a very good workout against Unibond Premier League side Matlock Town who secured a narrow win with a late goal.
The Millers took the lead after just thirty eight seconds when two of the new boys, John Robinson and Steve Brackenridge, linked up well and Brackenridge's close range shot found the roof of the net.
Matlock were soon on level terms when four minutes later, striker Ross Hannah capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to score past goalkeeper Liam Higginbotham who was injured trying to prevent the goal and subsequently had to leave the field but it is hoped that this was merely a precaution.
Both teams made a host of substitutions in the second half and the visitors created a couple of good opportunities but Ross Hannah failed to hit the target with a free header and Danny Cartwright hit a post.
The winner came seven minutes from time when youth team keeper George Arnold, who had replaced Liam Higginbotham in the first half, couldn't collect a dangerous left wing cross and Hannah was left with the simple task of putting the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the evening.
Team - Higginbotham, Flowers, S Jackson, Lomax, Band, Shaw, Meakin, Innes, Smith, Robinson, Brackenridge. Subs ( all used ) - Ryan, Arnold, Turner, Whitehead, D Jackson, Mather, Kharas, Garvey
Attendance - 135