Sandbach United 0-2 New Mills

Two early goals leave Sandbach with too much to do.

Sandbach had already beaten their visitors this season when they travelled to Church Lane last month. So they were looking to the double of the Millers when they came to Sandbach on Saturday.

Despite being second bottoms, New Mills had been revitalised with the appointment of both Mike Norton and Dave Birch. They showed just why they shouldn’t be underestimated as they took the lead after just 5 minutes. A deep cross from the left was met by Player/manager Mike Norton who headed it back across goal from the right side, it was a perfectly weighted header for Elliot Cooke who fired hole past Booth in the Sandbach goal. It was the worst possible start for United who still hadn’t got going.

Two minutes later their start went from bad to worse as the visitors doubled their lead as a ball in from the left was met by Will Ozono who found himself unmarked in the box before firing home from close range.

After just seven minutes Sandbach found themselves two goals down and a had a huge mountain to climb if they were to get anything out of the game.

United’s heads had gone. They were guilt of conceding little fouls and then being booked for arguing with the officials. They had to find a way to get back into the game fast.

However it was the away side who still dominating proceedings and the had the ball in the net for a third time as another diagonal ball from the left found Ozono in the box whose header looped over booth and nestled in the bottom left corner.Thankfully for Sandbach though the linesman had his flag up and ruled the goal out for offside.

Two minutes before half time the Millers almost added a third as Shelton Payne broke the offside trap and drove into the Sandbach and as he got into the box he fired straight at Sam Booth who saved easily.

Booth was again forced into action in the third minute of additional time as Ozono got to the byline down the left before pulling back to Norton who fired straight at the keeper from close range. Booth didn’t know much about it but it was still a superb save from the young stopper.

At half time Sandbach were 2-0 and they were very very poor, manager Andy Hockenhull would have been fuming at what he has just seen from his boys, they had plenty to do in the second half.

Sandbach came out for the second period looking the stronger of the sides, the had the first opportunity of the half as October player of the month Aaron Knight did well to get the ball into the box from the left, his cross found Oli Jepson who headed straight at the keeper from close range.

In the 64th minute United had their best chance of the game as Robbie Hatton’s cross from the left was met by captain Chris Rowntree who ghosted in and crashed a header off the bar from close range.

Despite having the better of the first part of the half. Sandbach again found themselves on the back foot as Ozono once again raced into the box before firing a shot towards goal but Booth again saves brilliantly as he tipped it around the post.

With eight minutes to go it was looking like the game was all but over, Robbie Hatton came close to bagging a consolation goal as he tried his look from range but the keeper was on hand to tip it over the bar.

The referee ended the game much to the relief of the supporters who were happy to see the end of the what was a very disappointing performance from their side. Overall it was a dismal day at the office for United.