Back-to-back home defeats for the Millers

North West Counties First Division South: New Mills 2-4 Wythenshawe Town

The Millers slumped to a second successive home defeat as Wythenshawe Town left Church Lane with all three points on Saturday, but two potential game-changing refereeing decisions in the first half went against them and left the home supporters fuming.

Dave Birch and Mike Norton’s side were dealt a blow in the build-up to the game as midfield player and club captain Darren McKnight signed for BetVictor Premier Division outfit Radcliffe Borough. McKnight had been a key player in the club's upturn in fortunes since September, netting some stunning goals along the way. The Millers' joint-bosses are already working hard to secure a replacement and have indicated that there may well be several additions to the squad in the coming week.

The home side made the worst possible start to the game, as Crellin-Myers found space inside the area just a minute in and he made no mistake in firing past Fowell.

The Millers recovered well and were level on 22 minutes. James Kalu, making his first start for the club, raced clear on goal and slotted past Jakovlevs for his first goal in an amber shirt.

The scores were level for just five minutes before the visitors went ahead again. Jordan Burton was given far too much space on the edge of the area and he blasted past an unsighted Fowell to give his side the lead for the second time.

The final moments of the first half brought with them the moments of controversy. On 43 minutes, Kalu was clean through on goal, in an almost identical move to that from which he had scored earlier, only to be hacked down by Gallacher.

The home players, staff and supporters were stunned to see the referee produce only a yellow card when the foul had prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. The resulting free-kick was wasted and the home side fumed.

Less than a minute later, Shelton Payne jinked past Brotherton in the area and appeared to be felled from behind, only for the referee to wave play on. Having gone around the defender, Payne was clear on goal, so it was difficult for the home supporters to see why he would have gone to ground had he not been fouled.

The Millers did manage to level the scores in first-half injury time. Skipper Mason Fallon crossed to the far post where James Neild headed home from six yards out.

The first half was brought to an end and the referee was left in no doubt what the home supporters thought of his performance, while the management team were visibly seething as they walked to the dressing rooms.

The visitors started the second half strongly and they went ahead again just after the hour mark, Crellin-Myers netting his second of the game, before they doubled their lead on 73 minutes as a mix up between Fowell and his defence enabled Marty Bryan to lob into an empty net from 20 yards out.

The Millers were dealt a further blow in the closing stages as Nathan Webb and then Benito Lowe limped from the action, leaving them to finish the game with 10 men as all substitutes had been used.

Nevertheless they still fought until the end, Payne went close with a left-footed effort and then Cavell Donaldson saw his close-range shot scrambled off the line.

Millers Joint-Boss Dave Birch picked out the foul on Kalu as a key moment in the game in his post-match interview.

“We played well for large parts today," Birch said “...but we never really got to grips with their front two. Three of the goals were caused by poor defending. We had a penalty shout at 2-2 and the referee failed to send their lad off when he brought James Kalu down when he was the last man. It’s tough to take but we move on." 

Images by Beth Lee