Stafford Town continue to suffer away from home, ultimately going down 5-1 to a determined and efficient New Mills side. The story of the game could have been very different however, Stafford denied what looked a stonewall penalty when leading the match 1-0 early on in the first half; New Mills subsequently seizing the momentum in the game and dominating the second period, scoring four goals in the process. Stafford began the game the brighter of the two sides, taking the lead in the 5th minute after winning possession on the edge of the New Mills area, the ball finding its way to debutant Declan Arber who fired into the bottom corner. A minute later a through ball by Josh Wilson found Josh Oultram in the right channel but his cross was cut out by the ‘keeper. Perhaps the most important point in the match occurred in the 9th minute, the referee waving away Stafford appeals for a clear penalty when Nathan Scott was brought down after skipping past his man in the box. New Mills reacted to the let-off and began to exert themselves in the game, putting Stafford under sustained periods of pressure and having at least three good chances in the next ten minutes. The first of these was a shot at the near post that went just wide, the second a shot from distance parried away by Sam Amedu and the third a header from a corner that was also wide. Stafford were looking to play on the break but the final ball was often rushed and the move would break down allowing for New Mills to build pressure anew. The best chance for Stafford in some time came in the 34th minute, Arber seeing a low shot from the edge of the box well saved following a neat chest down by Oultram from a clever lofted ball by John Pollard. New Mills pressure eventually resulted in a goal in the 38th minute, the ball powerfully headed home from a corner. HT 1-1. Amedu was called into action immediately in the second half, saving well at close range when a ball was flicked on behind the Stafford backline. Amedu could do little about New Mills second goal in the 47th minute however, a vicious dipping drive from the corner of the box flying in off the underside of the crossbar. Stafford were now struggling to create anything of note from an attacking point of view, their only significant chance of the half coming in the 55th minute as a good cross from the right resulted in a header from Oultram towards the bottom corner that was well saved. New Mills put the game to bed in the 73rd minute; an attack down the right saw the ball fed into the box, followed by a low cross and close-range finish. New Mills then showed their ruthless streak as Stafford wilted; following another good save by Amedu in the 78th minute New Mills made it four a minute later, a low corner towards the penalty spot saw a free shot into the corner. It was then five just two minutes later as Stafford sloppily conceded possession, an immediate through ball releasing the New Mills attacker to finish past Amedu and complete a miserable second half for Stafford in the High Peak of Derbyshire. FT 5-1 New Mills. Third-placed Abbey Hey are the visitors to Evans Park on Saturday 30th October before what is sure to be a memorable trip to face FC Isle of Man on Saturday 6th November.
All the goals and talking points from the game can be found here: https://youtu.be/cY3prDH5ZuQ
