NEW MILLS 1 – 4 DROYLSDEN

EvoStik NPL Division One (North)

Saturday 24 October 2015

BY GARY OWEN 

The Bloods cruised to their third consecutive victory over a sorry looking Millers team at Church Lane.

Niall Sultan went close on two occasions for the hosts, notably on 13 minutes when Ged Murphy and the Droylsden defence stood appealing for offside, only for Craig Ellison to come to their rescue with a one-on-one save.

From that moment on, though, the game was bossed by the visitors, who would have won by a much bigger margin, but for some appalling finishing, especially in the second period.

The first of those many missed chances came when James Hampson went clean through, but could only shoot straight at Oliver Martin in the New Mills goal.

However, Droylsden did take the lead when Ben Barber ran at the Millers’ defence only to be tripped, with Brandon Zibaka converting the spot kick.

Dominic Smith then saw his shot deflected on to the bar, but New Mills could have levelled just before the break, but Danny Murray could only head straight at Ellison from a corner kick.

A mix up in the home defence saw Droylsden double their lead shortly after the break, when the ball fell to Zibaka, who crossed for Hampson at the far post to head home.

Billy Hasler-Cregg took only four minutes to make his usual substitute impact when he roasted Kieran Burywood to cross for a Smith tap in, and Smith recorded his brace just four minutes later when he held off the attentions of Jack Pritchard to shott across Martin for 4-0.

Jack Pritchard bundled home a consolation for the hosts after Ellison could only parry a free kick from John Pritchard, before Danny McLoughlin missed a glorious opportunity to restore the four goal cushion, shooting straight at Martin with only the home stopper to beat.

Shortly afterwards, Hasler-Cregg failed to convert a low cross by McLoughlin, before the latter again failed to capitalise on a one-on-one with the home keeper.

At the other end, a dipping effort from Ben Connolly caused problems for Ellison, with Dean McGregor unable to capitalise on the loose ball, but there was still time for Nyal Bell and Hasler-Cregg to both fail to convert another McLoughlin delivery into the box.

There won’t be many easy rides for Droylsden this term, and although they will be satisfied with the three points, they also missed a chance to leave a better balance on their current goal difference deficit.

NEW MILLS:                          Martin, Burywood, John Pritchard, Jack Pritchard, Dickinson (Connolly, 69’), Murray, Williams, Walley (Riley, 46’), McGregor, Sultan (Myers, 69’), Hopper.  Subs not used – Vinton, Needham.

DROYLSDEN:                       Ellison, Antoine-Clarke, Barber, Wood, Murphy (McLoughlin, 69’), O’Brien,  Rouse, Haynes, Zibaka (Hasler-Cregg, 60’), Smith, Hampson J. (Bell, 60’)  Subs. not used – Hewitt, Ramsbottom.

Referee:                                 Mr. Danny Gratton (Stone, Staffordshire)

• < Prev
• Next >