MILLER THRILLER

2nd April 2019 - New Mills FC 1 v 2 Sandbach United - Into the last month of the campaign, the time of the footballing year when many things will be decided.  Will your team win promotion?  Will the year end is disappointment?  Will Billy Bremner finally tell us if he has ginger pubes?  It is all there to be revealed, many questions will be answered, and Mr Bremner may be hailed a hero by all those with carrot fuzzed conkers.  My good lady and myself had spent our days at work, had a quick bite to eat before heading down the A6 to the not-too distant Church Lane Ground.  The last time I was here the local Man of the Cloth sold me a dodgy Excorcism Kit thus leading to my father being found in a demon-possessed state in the local Bingo Hall (Clickety Click - the Devil's testes), 6 summoned goblins took up up residence in my elderly neighbours rectum and a nearby crack opened up in the street where I live allowing Semenjus and his evil tadpole hordes to impregnate the local members of the WRVS.  I should have dropped off the dodgy box of tricks tonight but was sidetracked by a Monkey's Paw I had picked up.  I had made my initial wish, it was for a goal fest - if it doesn't come up I will wish for the referee to wake up with a 6 foot willy and for his whistle to eternally taste of shit - that will be some recompense.  So a brew had, a chat with a fine couple we meet here and there whose ruddy names have slipped my frazzled memory once more and then a meet-up with fellow punk git Dangerous Dave aka Dale aka The Mad Priest (he once cut my head off don't ya know).  Seats taken, brews downed, game on - forgive my wanderings, I always get a bit tired this late in the season.

Leather was thudded, plumes of breath were exhaled, touch line abuse was on the tip of the tongue ready to be spilled.  The commencement was as tight as Bertie Wooster after a raucous night down The Drones Club.  Both teams strove to pass and play, everything was set up for a fine night of football.  From the rear of the New Mill's ranks the keeper launched a long goal-kick that speared though the midfield melee and released No 11 (Remeece Brown).  The nifty player at the fore was onto the ball and wasted no time in cracking one off (ooh err), only to be denied by a solid bit of net-protecting via the guest No 1 (Matt Green).  A kick from the angle came, was knocked out and boomed back with interest by No 4 (Tom Russell).  The shot had anger, focus and impetus, alas it flashed over the horizontal instead of below it.  In return the Sandbach lads raced forth and a low, fiery cross was had, right across the face of goal it went - the merest touch was absent, it was a warning to The Millers to not get carried away.  

Both sides continued to play assertive football on the deck, any chances though were snuffed out by several moments of defensive quality.  The only real dig came through Brown who blazed from the angle but with too much elevation.  The next action soon arose, SB's No 9 (Kieran Garner-Knapper) ran like the wind, shrugged off a defensive mitherer but released a little too late and allowed the mittman to block the shot.  A few minutes passed and then a free-kick came the same way.  The ball was stung and entered the box on a low trajectory.  No 10 (Ryan Allcock) applied a very cute touch, the ball crept wide of the upright!  The Millers upped the ante, a free-kick and 2 corners brought promises but were all dealt with (just) with the latter gratis boot leading to a Sandbach break that saw No 11 (Harry Cain) provide an outstanding cross-field ball that just escaped the controlling clutches of the incoming No 10 (Ryan Allcock).  A battling period ensued, an episode of madness was fought in the Sandbach penalty box, survival for the guests was had but there was a goal on the cards, I could feel it in my rising waters.  Sandbach broke again, No 4 (Declan O' Riordan) was away, shook off his marker and looked ready to break the deadlock - the home keeper (Stuart Morrison) though was quick to dive at the feet of the menace and duly kill the danger.

The half looked done until a coming together saw a few sparks fly and Sandbach's Allcock get shown a straight red - I suspect a few verbals added to the decision.  At the last, and inspired by their one man advantage, the NM lads looked to finish the first 45 with a flourish.  A free-kick brought no joy, a sweeping attack was quality but the guest No 5 (Kris Stockton) produced an outstanding tackle and suddenly we were done and Old Mother Hubbard's knickers of good time goals were bare - ooh the old misery guts.

A brew and a natter for half-time, all agreed this had been a decent do so far with much to ponder.  The pendulum of positivity had swung towards the hopes of the hosts after that unexpected sending off - the question was, could they make the most of it - dum, de, dum, dum!

From the start of the second period the guests more than held their own but Brown for the hosts pushed on, put in a cross that was deflected and fell to No 7 (Robbie Swallow) who put in a delicate touch and grabbed the first goal of the game.  The Millers now started to control the game, Ambrose had a snap shot into the side netting and Sandbach really needed to get to grips with matters or this one would be done, dusted and all aspirations would be busted.  A few spiced tackles raised the heat of the contest, Sandbach heaved onwards, 3 shots came, 2 blocks came, the last effort went wide - this though was highly promising and the game was far from over.  The visitors now had ideas, a quick move culminated with Cain swivelling, releasing and clattering the post,  Once again the SB squad came, a dazzling ball saw Lane almost nip in, almost but not quite.  Cain for the trailing team was being a perpetual peril, he supplied 2 more crosses - one low aching for a touch that never came, the second high and swinging that was just dealt with by a flustered New Mills pack.  A delay brought welcome relief for the hosts who restarted the game with impetus and released their Swallow to sign, seal and deliver the game.  The shot was saved and soon after the same scenario was created and the same outcome had.

Into the rising tension we marched, a Sandbach goal-kick went over all heads, was hoofed back and then volleyed with spite by Cain.  The keeper sprung, stretched and saved - a fine moment to keep the peepers wide.  The hosts were offering little in return although Brown nearly nipped in after a defensive mix-up but a dubious goal-kick was the result.  Brown had another shot and then Sandbach broke, No 12 (Tom Williams) delivered, a cranial touch came and the keeper was beat, No 6 (Christopher Rowntree) was the executioner, this had been one fine fightback.  From here The Millers tried to dig deep, No 14 (Aaron Fleming) had a rare pop that went over and the the visitors swooped with high intensity.  A cross, a shot, a save - a corner followed.  A short ball was played, No 15 (Matt Pearson) was on it, progression was allowed, the whole defensive unit looked uncertain and suddenly a rasping shot was delivered and the Sandbach crew had smashed, grabbed and nearly delivered a quite unbelievable turnaround.  Wow man, wow!

From here there was a whole lot of huff and puff with The Millers desperate to salvage something from a game they should have been in command of.  Cain had a free-kick for Sandbach that just wouldn't stay down and then lashed another shot within seconds that was was closer than first imagined.  No 14 (Lucas Baker) had the last real effort of the game with a sizzling run down the right that ended with a shot the keeper did mighty well to block with his legs.  6 minutes were added, the finale was frantic but Sandbach gave little away and eventually were delighted to hear the final whistle and bag the 3 point prize.  Man of the Match goes to Sandbach United's No 11 (Harry Cain) who ran himself into the ground, played with a mercurial tempo and was, throughout the whole match, an incessant problem that New Mills never really dealt with.  We had enjoyed this one, final chats and farewells were had to the aforementioned folk and off we pootled, 6 matches of the season left.

FINAL THOUGHT - Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and my missus did too.  It was an highly entertaining match that had unexpected incidents, chances aplenty and with an outcome that wasn't confirmed until the final shrill of the pea-laden implement.  New Mills must be gutted with their second half performance and rather than take the bull by the bollocks they sat back and looked like startled rabbits in the headlights of an oncoming articulated truck with little idea how to avoid the end disaster.  It was the lack of ideas and the belief that they could hammer the 10 men that cost them tonight, a lesson they will duly learn from and be thankful it was handed on when there was little on the line.  They are still in transition but have a lot to build on and seem to have many a good player in the pack who will bring much reward - of course I will be checking up on them several times next year, it is always a fine place to visit.  Sandbach were exceptional tonight and if the truth be known, wanted this more and wouldn't be denied.  When down to 10 men they refused to sit back and soak thing up - they had enough belief and character to take the game on, go for the win and unltimately achieve full triumph.  In truth, I thought they would be pushing for top spot this time around and am surprised they are just off the main pace setters - but as per, there is always next time and if the heart and passion, as shown tonight, can be maintained, I am sure they can be serious movers and shakers in the 2019/2020 campaign.