The Millers 1-0 Abbey Hey

An injury time winner by Joe Bevan, capitalising on a defensive mistake to slot past Joe Lawton in the Abbey Hey goal, sparked scenes of delirium at Church Lane as Dave Birch and Mike Norton’s Millers side progressed to face Isle of Man in a weeks time, with the winner earning a place in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

The Millers had rested a number of players in midweek at Cheadle Heath Nomads to ensure a fully fit squad and the home fans were buoyed by the return of Benito Lowe from injury lining up just behind Michael Fish and Joe Bevan in attack. The Millers enjoyed the better of the opening period, the attacking line up asking frequent questions of the visitors defence but as half-time approached the visitors settled into the game and began to create opportunities themselves, their set pieces in particular asking questions of Harry Norris and Manu Omorogbe.

Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in the second half but as extra time loomed it seemed that a mistake or moment of brilliance would decide the game, and so it proved in injury time as Bevan intercepted a back pass 20 yards from goal, raced clear and fired home to send his side through to the final.