Challenge Cup triumph for New Mills

Vodkat League Challenge Cup Final

New Mills 2 Runcorn Linnets 0

New Mills gained some consolation for missing out on the Premier Division title by securing the Vodkat League Challenge Cup with a 2-0 win over Runcorn Linnets.

The game at the Tameside Stadium on the 11th May arrived just two days after New Mills had lost 5-0 to AFC Fylde in the Premier Division shoot out at Kellamergh Park.

It was hardly an ideal backdrop as preparation for a cup final, but a fine first half display from the Millers on a blustery evening set them on the road to cup success.

In similar fashion to the Division One Trophy Final, the opening goal arrived from the first clear cut chance of the game.

With just five minutes gone, Nathan Wharton advanced into the box and struck a shot that took a deflection into the path of Scott McGowan who gave the Millers a dream start with a looping header over the keeper.

A minute later McGowan came close again, when a timely interception by Runcorn’s Rob Whyte thwarted him as he almost pounced on a Carlos Meakin cross.

On 17 minutes Runcorn captain Steve Cunningham, sporting shirt with no number, produced his side’s first chance when he struck a 30 yard effort just wide of the left hand post.

But with 27 minutes gone, Runcorn’s evening got worse when Gary Kharas added a second, the striker chesting down a Carlos Meakin cross, and finishing with a shot on the turn under Runcorn keeper Robbie Holcroft

Five minutes from half time the dangerous duo combined again, Meakin’s turn and cross from the bye line being met with a firm header from Kharas that was smothered at the post by Holcroft.

Three minutes intro the second half New Mills introduced Steve Jackson for Scott McGowan, and the substitute’s first touch was a cracking 20 yard effort that Holcroft gathered at the second attempt on the goal line.

Holcroft was called into action again 10 minutes later, making a great stop from a Kharas half volley after Jackson had set up the chance.

As the half wore on, Runcorn began enjoy more possession, and as the midway point approached, Simon Myerscough’s glancing header from Rob Whyte’s cross was cleared off the line by Lee Bromley.

Two minutes neat play by Paul Crewe and Rob Whyte set up another chance for Myerscough, but he was denied by a great blocking tackle as he shaped to shoot on the edge of the box.

 

Runcorn won a series of corners as they pushed New Mills back in their own half for long spells, but the Millers’ defence held firm in the face of the pressure.

But Runcorn kept going and in the closing minutes Rob Whyte sliced a shot wide and Nehru McKenzie blasted a shot on the turn over the bar in a last desperate attempt to get on the score sheet.

But as the game entered the sixth minute of stoppage time, referee Paul Graham finally called a halt to proceedings, and the Millers fans and players celebrated their third cup success in successive years.

The Division Two Trophy in 2006-07 was followed by the Reserve Division cup last season, and now the Challenge Cup gives the club a unique treble in as many years.

After match comments:

New Mills Manager Tony Hancock: “We knew if we started brightly we could get an early goal to calm our nerves, and with the goals coming early in the game, it allowed us to take control.

“They were always likely to have a spell in the game, and in the second half we sat back and invited pressure a bit, and made hard work of it for 20-25 minutes. But if we had got a third goal it would have killed them off.

“I’m pleased for the lads. It wasn’t hard to pick them up after Saturday (after losing to AFC Fylde) because of the types of characters they are. To go 21 games unbeaten and then have that happen I think showed it wasn’t to be our day, but I spoke to them all before the game and told them to make sure they got something for all their hard work this season, and thankfully we got our hands on a trophy.”

New Mills Chairman Ray Coverley: “It was disappointing on Saturday, but we bounced back and it was a good performance from us. I’ve enjoyed it tonight and it’s made up a little bit for Saturday, and it was a fantastic response from the players.

“It’s been a great season and we’ve ended on a high note which is what we wanted to do and have bounced back. It was a hard game, the conditions were not ideal so it wasn’t ever going to be a great game, more of a battle, and we came on top."

Runcorn Linnets Chairman Derek Greenwood: “Congratulations to New Mills, I thought they deserved it on the first half performance, although we ran them close in the second half.

“Once again our supporters were fantastic and it’s just a shame we couldn’t manage a goal for them. But if you had said to us at the start of the season that we’d finish in the top half of the table and get to a cup final, I think we’d have been fairly happy with that.

“This is our third season in the league, and so far we’ve won promotion and now we’ve had a cup final. We are progressing and that is what it’s all about.

“Everyone knows we want to get back into the town of Runcorn and everyone can see the kind of support we have. It shows the board that when we have nights like this that there are people from the town who will come and support us.”

Runcorn Linnets Manager Steve Wilkes: “New Mills are very good at what they do. They won 21 league games on the trot and we knew we would have to be on the ball for 90 minutes against them, and unfortunately we weren’t.

“One or two things fell for them in the first half and they got two goals, but we had a spell in the second half when we had about seven or eight corners. If we had put one of those chances away it could have been a different game.

“The game plan went out of the window when we went two down, and the goals were poor goals to lose from a defensive point of view.

“I have to give a huge pat on the back to the players for the second half display, when I thought there was only one team in it, but we just didn’t get a break.

“We have got the best supporters in the league without a doubt and they have been fantastic all season. We just wish we could have given them something to cheer tonight but unfortunately we just fell a little bit short.”

New Mills: Liam Higginbotham, Lee Bromley, Mickey Lomax, Mickey Ryan, Peter Band, Danny Jackson (Craig Flowers 90), Carlos Meakin (captain), Nathan Wharton, Gary Kharas, Paul Garvey (Matt Smith 65), Scott McGowan (Steve Jackson 48).

Subs not used: Joe Shaw, Craig Marsh

Goals: Scott McGowan 5, Gary Kharas 27

Runcorn Linnets: Robbie Holcroft, Joel Pilkington (Chris Blundell 74), Matthew Rigby, Nehru McKenzie, Simon Myerscough, Clive Brown, Stuart Telfer, Steve Cunningham (captain) (Damien Morrison 65), Anthony Murt (Barry Massay 85), Paul Crewe, Rob Whyte.

Subs not used: Steve Pickup, Gavin King

Booked: Simon Myerscough 52

Referee: Paul Graham

Assistants: Phil Morley, David Underwood

Fourth Official: S.A. Oldham

Attendance: 411

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