REPORT: Brave young Millers exit Derbyshire Senior Cup

Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup semi-final: Belper Town 2-1 New Mills AFC

The Millers crashed out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup at the semi-final stage, in spite of dominating long periods of the game against their hosts, who are flying high in the league table several divisions further up the footballing pyramid.

The Millers received a boost in the build-up to the fixture, with goalkeeper Dylan Forth declared fit to play - the shot-stopper returning to the starting line-up for the first time since suffering a training ground injury back in December.

With Nat Kerr suspended and Harry Norris unavailable, the Millers were forced into a defensive reshuffle, James Neild returning to the back line alongside Tommy Lent, who also returned to his favoured spot in central defence having spent the previous two months at right-back. Youngster Elliot Cooke took the right-back position, offering him an opportunity to win back his starting place, having sat on the substitutes bench in recent weeks.

Both sides started positively, the home team immediately slipping into their long-ball routine to utilise the height of gargantuan striker Danny South, while the Millers looked to play their usual slick passing game.

Forth was called into action early on, gathering a 25-yard free-kick comfortably, before Will Ozono broke clear at the other end and sent in a cross that evaded everyone.

On 10 minutes, a slip by skipper Mason Fallon let Robson in on the right-hand side, and the Millers did well to scramble his low cross away. Benito Lowe went close at the other end just moments later, his 25-yard effort turned wide by Ryan Musselwhite. On 23 minutes, a great team move culminated in Mike Norton setting up Jake Pollard, whose weak effort was taken by Musselwhite.

The Millers went ahead on 27 minutes, as clever hold-up play by Norton saw him win a free-kick on the right and Pollard’s looping cross was headed home by Lowe from 12 yards out.

Belper responded immediately and were unlucky not to level straight from the kick-off with an effort from the left which cannoned back off the post.

It was not long before Belper did level the scores. Nathan Curtis was adjudged to have been fouled as he dribbled towards the area and referee Reece Davies decided that the foul was just inside the box and awarded a penalty kick. The impressive George Milner made no mistake from 12 yards out, sending Forth the wrong way from the spot.

Two minutes later and Belper were ahead. A cross from the left was headed back across goal by South before going in off a defender. The Millers were incensed that the goal was given, Tommy Lent seemed to have been man-handled in the build-up but the referee judged that the contact did not prevent Lent from challenging for the ball.

The first half ended in controversy. Lowe, backing into a defender, was clearly kicked from behind by the Belper player. The incident appeared to have been seen by both the referee and linesman, yet rather than the red card for the Belper player that everyone in attendance was expecting, both players were shown a yellow card.

The Millers started the second period brightly, with Oakes and Norton both going close, but in spite of dominating possession, they were unable to create many clear openings as Belper defended stoutly.

South wasted a glorious opportunity for Belper at the other end, heading wide when it seemed certain he would score, but it was largely one way traffic as the game reached its conclusion.

Shelton Payne, Danny McLaughlin and Adam Gardiner were all brought on for the Millers to add attacking impetus, but the Millers were restricted to speculative long-range efforts as Belper hung on to win and take their place in the final against South Normanton Athletic at Derby County's Pride Park. 

Nevertheless, it was a spirited effort by a young Millers side, who will take heart from the performance, and they now turn their attentions to league matters, with a North West Counties Football League fixture away at Eccleshall this weekend.