FOOTBALL: Mills strike lifts ten-man Millers (From Witney Gazette)

FOOTBALL: Mills strike lifts ten-man Millers

3:02pm Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Football

AN injury-time strike from John Mills saw North Leigh boost their Division 1 South & West play-off hopes with a 2-1 win against Wimborne Town.

It looked bleak for Mark Gee’s men when they had Elliott Osborne-Ricketts sent off 20 minutes from time, but Mills struck home the 92nd minute winner.

North Leigh started the stronger, with Stuart Hole, Osborne-Ricketts and Morgan Williams all going close.

The hosts had a let-off when Micky Hubbard’s cross found Tom Jeffes, who could only direct his header into the arms of Sam Warrell in the North Leigh goal.

The Millers were taking control, so it was against the run of play when Wimborne took the lead just after the break.

Hole slipped as he tried to challenge Jamie Davidson, allowing him to poke the ball past Warrell into the far corner.

Seven minutes later, a poor clearance found Hole who drove the ball back in and Tom Franklin headed past Jason Harvell in the Wimborne goal.

North Leigh were reduced to ten men when Osborne-Ricketts was sent off for a second booking.

Despite the odds, North Leigh pushed forward and two minutes into added time, Mills’s close-range shot was deflected past Harvell into the net.

North Leigh: Warrell, Hole, Organ (Sanders 35), Burnell (Clark 77), Franklin, Caton, Reardon (Mills 77), Bowles, Williams, Osborne-Ricketts, Hopkins. Sub not used: Crudup.

Attendance: 80.