The “Vodkat” North West Counties Football League Premier Division 2009-10

Saturday, February 27th 2010

NEW MILLS FC 4 v 0 SILSDEN AFC

Pickford 45, C. Baguley 52,

Berkeley 72, Band 79. Att.150

COBBYDALERS FIND THE MILLERS ON TOP FORM

The Cobbydalers faced the Millers, who, having been knocked out in the fifth round stage of the F.A.Vase, still have hopes of achieving promotion. With only two league defeats to date, the Millers would expect to be strong contenders in a normal season but this year Newcastle Town are way ahead of the pack. On Saturday, in their 28^th league game, Newcastle finally dropped their first points of the season in a one all draw with ....Colne FC. It raised the Millers’ aspirations.

On yet another weekend with the fixture list disrupted by the weather, Silsden arrived at Church Lane hoping for no repeat of the previous weeks fiasco, when an early morning, positive pitch inspection was overturned by the match official at 2.00pm. Fortunately some forking in the goalmouths at New Mills made play possible. The pitch did cut up but it didn’t deter the teams from producing a game of some quality.

Whilst Chris Reape was without three players who were ski-ing Tony Hancock, the Miller’s

Boss, had new signings, Jamie and Chris Baguley in his line up. Both have moved from Unibond outfit, Leigh Genesis, and had netted 18 goals this season.

The game proved a tough test for the Cobbydalers, who had produced such an insipid performance in their last game. There was no doubt that the Millers were the better side, but the Cobbydalers showed a fighting spirit, especially in defence where the back four and keeper were under a constant barrage.

The Derbyshire boys were on the attack from the first minute. A long ball over the defence beat Scott Hanson. Turner was on it in a flash but Hanson raced back to put in a sliding tackle. Keeper Joshua Ollerenshaw was in the action next when he saved a low drive from Jamie Baguley. Adam Mather was a real handful on the left, sending over a sequence of inviting crosses. Martin Bland and Scott Hanson were in the thick of the action and when they were beaten Rob Barraclough was there to deny Chris Baguley.

Silsden were finding the pace and power of the Millers difficult to combat, but the Yorkshiremen nearly netted the opener after fifteen minutes. A long ball from Scott Hanson should have been headed clear by Peter Band, but the centre back allowed the ball to go over him, hoping to bring it down. Chris Simpson stole the ball and drew keeper, Ingram-Hughes. He took a chance but the keeper deflected his low shot wide with a heel. Simpson managed to get in another shot from the edge of the box but the Millers keeper saved it comfortably.

When Jamie Baguley beat Barraclough on the byline, the Miller’s forwards were lining up to shoot. But once again Scott Hanson was there. Skipper Meakin then shot wide before Pickford broke through. Ollerenshaw spread himself to deny the Miller’s defender. When Chris Baguley crossed again into the goal area, Peter Hanson cleared over his own bar. Next it was Barraclough’s turn and then Bland headed clear. When Ollerenshaw tipped Meakin’s header wide and then pushed the skipper’s point-blank header over the bar, it looked as if Silsden would hold out. Unfortunately Steve PICKFORD headed home in stoppage time.

Substitute Berkeley should have made it two in the opening minute of the second period, but he blasted over the bar. Chris Baguley’s shot lacked power but when the Millers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Silsden box. CHRIS BAGULEY finally got on the score sheet with a superb curling free kick, which cleared the Silsden wall, to go just inside the near post. Ollerenshaw prevented another, when he cleared with a tackle, after Bland had under-hit his back pass.

The Silsden midfield worked had to stem the tide but the sharp Millers soon regained the ball with swift tackling. Reape brought on Liam Blacka and Lewis Barker, who was marking his return following a three month spell on the treatment table. Barker found Mather just as tricky has had Peter Hanson. Fortunately Scott Hanson and Blacka headed further crosses clear before substitute BERKELEY made it three with a low drive.

Blacka nearly pulled one back but his shot was cleared off the line by Band. BAND then pulled away from Bland at the far post to make it four from a corner.

Silsden did produce two moments of quality in the final fifteen minutes. Barker and Barraclough inter-passed through the Miller’s midfield with some super touch football. A move down the right between Barker and Thompson saw Simpson crossing into the box. For once Tim Hird broke through from midfield only to shoot marginally high.

Reape was philosophical in defeat. “We probably met them at the top of their game. At least we battled hard and might have nicked a consolation goal.” The Millers fans agreed.

NEW MILLS FC Hughes, Bowler, Innes, Jackson, Band, Pickford (Monaghan), Meakin(Berkeley), C.Baguley, Turner, J. Baguley (Dignan), Mather Subs. dnp. Burke, Wharton.

SILSDEN AFC Ollerenshaw, P.Hanson, Barraclough, Finn(Blacka), S.Hanson, Bland(Khalif), Bradley(Barker), Hird, Simpson, Thompson, McNulty