New Mills 3 Squires Gate 3: Match report

Having secured their Hallmark Security League premier division status with the previous weekend’s heroic win over Runcorn Linnets, the pressure was off for Gate manager Danny Penswick, who recalled Corey Moorehead, Mark Thornbur and Higham to the starting 11 in Derbyshire.

Paul Alexander went closest for Gate in the opening exchanges but his shot was comfortably saved by Oliver Martin, while at the other end Samuel Marshall shot wide when one on one with keeper Joe Griffith.

Griffith was at fault for the opening goal on 24 minutes, dropping the ball for Nathan Neequaye to poke home.

New Mills ended the first half the dominant side but Gate were level a minute into the second half, when Tarren Moxon controlled a long ball, jinked past two defenders and fired home,

New Mills were back in front within five minutes as Moorhead could only divert a cross into his own net.

Gate player-boss Penswick was inches from heading home a corner and Alexander was denied when Martin saved his low drive.

It looked all over for the visitors on 78 minutes, when Neequaye got around the defence to score his second to make it 3-1.

But five minutes later, Moxon beat the offside trap to take captain Andrew Richards’ perfect pass in his stride and score his second with a fine shot into the top corner.

And it was Higham who kept his composure to equalise at the far post for Gate, who finish just one place but seven points clear of the bottom three.

GATE: Griffith, Richards, Penswick, Moorhead, Higham, Hall, Richards, Thornber, Seear, Alexander, Moxon; Subs: Smith, Seear, Rothwell, Waters, Casey.