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 FA 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 Innes'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 to 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
Pictures from the game can be viewed here:
http://newmillsafc.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album77
