Cheadle come out on top in local derby

A disappointing second half performance by the Millers saw them slip to consecutive home defeats in the past week. In similar fashion to the loss to Sandbach United, a slow start to the second half allowed the visitors to take control of the contest, and Gareth Cross and Nick Dowse's side left themselves with too much to do in the closing stages of the game.

The Millers joint-bosses were forced into several changes from the weekends goalless draw at Cammell Laird. Bobby Lofthouse and Dennis Sherriff look like missing the remainder of the season through injury, while Arron Kirk and Jack Miller were also enforced absentees having picked up knocks at weekend. On the plus side, Ed Driver was fit to return and take his place up front and Niall Cannon came in for his first start for the club against his former side.

The Millers started well, Sam Marshall in particular causing the visitors countless problems on the right of the attack, and it was Marshall who was to give them the lead. On seven minutes Jordan Milne threaded the ball through for Marshall to run onto and he made no mistake, firing past Ryan Allcock in the Cheadle goal. Marshall was presented with a similar opportunity just minutes later, again sent through by Milne, but this time his shot narrowly missed the target. George Blackwell had a good chance to double the lead on 25 minutes, seeing his shot saved by Allcock, and the Cheadle keeper came to his sides rescue again on the half hour mark, clawing Milne's free-kick around the post.

That was as good as it was to get for the Millers as just moments later Cheadle equalised and seized control of the game. Richard Whyatt took advantage of a slip by Michael Jones and picked up the ball on the left flank, he cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot past Ollie Martin from 20 yards out. As half-time approached Cheadle should have taken the lead, a low cross from the left found Daniel Wood six yards out but somehow he managed to send his effort over the cross bar. The Millers immediately had a similar opportunity at the other end, Marshall teeing up Driver, but Driver scuffed his effort wide.

The tide of the game had well and truly turned with the equalising goal and it was the visitors who were on the front foot from the start of the second half, which was only moments old when the took the lead. A fine move found Chris Sherrington on the left side of the area and he produced a fine finish from the angle. Sherrington was to double his tally, and his sides advantage, on 53 minutes. A clumsy challenge by Joe Armstrong, which earned him caution, gave Cheadle a free-kick on the edge of the area and Sherrington curled his effort around the wall and into the corner of the net.

The Millers battled their way back into the game with twenty minutes to go, Allcock spilling Pollard's free-kick straight to Milne who tucked in his third goal of the season. But while there were plenty promising moments in the closing stages the home side failed to test the Cheadle keeper and the visitors were to hold on and record their first ever victory at Church Lane.

Line Up:
1. Ollie Martin 2. Joe Rothwell 3. Jordan Pendlebury 4. Jordan Milne 5. Joe Armstrong 6. Michael Jones (c) 7. Sam Marshall 8. Jack McConnell 9. Ed Driver 10. Niall Cannon (Jake Pollard) 11. George Blackwell

Unused: Adam Rigby, Arron Kirk, Asa Hallworth, Jack Miller