New Mills Secretary Duncan Hibbert, manager Tony Hancock and two goal hero Tommy Turner share their views on the club's FA Vase win over Witney United.
Duncan Hibbert:
The game was a roller-coaster of emotions but ultimately it was a great day for everybody connected with New Mills Football Club.
Great credit should go to Witney for not only their part in the game which was a superb spectacle but also for their graciousness in defeat after the game. They played particularly well in the first half and led at the interval but maybe they paid for their efforts in the opening forty five minutes, as they quickly tired after the interval and simply couldn't cope with our pace, strength and overall superior fitness.
To turn in such a strong second half performance, not only speaks volumes for the team's resilience but also to the coaching abilities of Kirky, Tony's assistant. Despite the enforced break of five and a half weeks because of the weather, the squad has trained regularly and maintained their levels of fitness and that hard work paid off on Saturday particularly in the second half.
Tommy was in the right place at the right time on two separate occasions and showed what a natural goalscorer he is with two completely different finishes. But saying that, he probably missed his easiest chance of the afternoon late on which would have given him his hat-trick but thankfully neither this nor the fog which came down late in the game could deny us the deserved victory.
Of course with the draw for the next round already having taken place, we know that out next opponents will be Norton and Stockton Ancients from The North East. I'm sure Tony will do his usual homework on them but their defeats of Bootle and Padiham will mean they are a decent side who will be no pushovers.
One last thing, whilst we are the first to criticise referees, we very rarely praise them but referee Mr Toner's display yesterday was excellent. Whilst possibly letting a few tackles go unpunished early in the game, his willingness to let play flow at every possible opportunity was refreshing to see and his contribution to the game matched those of the players.
Tony Hancock:
First of all I'd like to say what a good side we played against. I paid them respect by going to watch them before the big freeze, and they didn't change anything from what I saw of them.
I knew it would be difficult but I was always thinking to myself that we would score, because with these lads in this team we were always going to score a goal, and once we got the one, the nerves settled a little bit and we went on and did the job.
When we went in at half time, we knew we had had a lot of possession but we were giving the ball away in silly areas. They played with five across (midfield) and one up front and we just couldn't seem to pass in our triangles like we normally do.
We were patient, kept plugging away and we scored at a time where they had kept breaking us down. But once we got the ball to feet and started finding a bit more room, with the greatest respect I thought we were the better team.
We always seem to come better in the second half. We are a very fit side, although we lost a lot of games through the snow over Christmas we have kept out fitness up and it's shown again. We were still going towards the end and could have wrapped it up with Tommy's third.
Tommy has the knack of being in the right place at the right time, and he missed the easiest chance of the afternoon. He's a great asset to the club, he's a very nice lad, the lads like him up here and long may it continue for him. Him and Gary (Kharas) are a threat and we've got Bobby (Lloyd) to throw up there as well like we did today in the last twenty minutes.
Now we're playing a team from the North East again which won't be easy, and obviously it gets harder the further you go down the line. I don't know anything about them, I'll have a look at their schedule and the games they'll be playing. Kirky (assistant Paul Kirkham) can take charge for one night if that's how it's got to be and I can go up to watch them.
Tommy Turner:
It was a great feeling, absolutely fantastic. I actually thought about doing this (scoring twice) before coming here today, so for it to come true you can't beat it.
On the first goal, the ball through was mint and all I could think of was that I had to get the ball out from under my feet because I could see the defender anticipating to slide in. So I thought if I took it to my left he couldn't get there, and then it was one more touch past the goalie and slotted it home.
I tend to go in and then peel out because it creates space at the back and I scored off that on Tuesday night and did again today (on the second goal).
I knew I was going to get booked for celebrating but I just couldn't help myself (he took his shirt off), it was either that or doing something crazy.
