Cup kings Mill Hill on track after turbulent season

They progressed to the semi finals of the Presidents Cup after a 4-0 win over Garstang Reserves, with a hat trick from Callum Newton and a strike from Harvey O’Toole.

“We were in control, really, from the first minute,” said Jones, “We scored quite early, which always helps and it settled us down a bit.

“There were a few things in the first half I wasn’t really happy with, which we ironed out at half-time, we changed shape as well.

“The reaction from the players in the second half, they did exactly what we asked them to do, and in the end, we were quite comfortable, to be honest.

“I said in my interview after the game with our media guy that when you get to that stage of the competition, it's just about getting the win, it doesn't really matter how you do it but overall, I’m happy.”

Jones’ side are in the final four of another cup - they take on Daten in the Lancashire Amateur Shield’s semi finals next week.

Daten are on a superb run of form in the Cheshire Football League, but Jones knows that form isn’t such a big factor in the latter stages of the cups.

“We set out to have a good cup run at the start of the season so hopefully we'll take it one step further on Saturday.

“It’ll be a tough game, I've watched Daten quite a few times this season and they’re 28 unbeaten in their respective league and cups so it’s definitely not going to be easy.

“We fancy ourselves against anyone at home so it's a luxury that we're down there, we're expecting a big crowd as well I think.

“We’ll relish the challenge but the 28 games unbeaten is irrelevant to be honest with you because it's the semi-final of the cup, a one-off game, anyone can beat anyone and we’re confident.

“If we play to our strengths, then we can beat anybody at any level, and that’s been shown when we beat Astley & Buckshaw from 2-0 down in the competition earlier on in the season.

“They were two divisions higher and there are a few other teams that we’ve played and either beaten them or been really competitive, like Tempest United [in the Richardson Cup] who we lost to in the last minute."

Mill Hill are seventh in Division Two, a standing that Jones feels doesn’t tell the full story of their season - his first in charge - however both their league and cup campaigns provide a strong base for the future.

“I'm really pleased with [the cup runs] because we've been quite frustrated with our league position, there's quite a few games that we felt we should have taken more from.

“Ultimately, if we did take more, then we'd be sat in third or fourth in our opinion.

“When we took over in the summer, it was well documented that the club had some issues last season so this season was always about getting ourselves back on a stable footing.

“We’ve made a lot of changes to the playing side but it is a little bit frustrating when we feel like we could have taken it to another level.

“But if we could finish in the top five or six this season, hopefully a Lancashire Cup final, hopefully a Presidents Cup final as well to add to that, overall, I think that'll be a pretty decent first season.“

Exciting plans for new club facilities are set to be announced imminently by their local council after positive talks, as they continue to build for a positive future.

In this weekend’s other Presidents Cup quarter final, Poulton defeated Charnock Richard Reserves 7-1.

Freddie Kenyon gave his side two first half goals before Billy Dollin bagged three goals in 20 minutes.

Dan Smith added another for Poulton, and Toby Scammell got the seventh after a consolation from Charnock’s Josh Whittaker.

In more cup action, Carnforth Rangers are through to their third Challenge Cup final in four years after beating Euxton Villa Reserves 2-1 at Croston Sports’ ground.

Joe Jobling gave Carnforth a half-time lead, which was extended early into the second 45 through Joe Wilkinson, but an own goal in Euxton’s favour made things interesting in the final 20 minutes.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves will play in the Lancashire Amateur Cup final after a 5-2 win over Lostock St Gerards Reserves, while Kendal United bowed out of the Westmorland Senior Cup at the semi final stage following a 5-0 loss to Appleby.

In the Premier Division, Blackpool Wren Rovers saw off Coppull United 5-1.

They were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Ric Seear, Liam Wenman and Kian Makepeace, but Regan Hartigan pulled one back with 20 minutes of the second half gone.

The chances of a Coppull comeback were short-lived, however, as another from Seear and a Jonny Airey goal made sure of the win; Wren Rovers are now in the top five.

Eagley restored their eight-point lead at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over CMB - Finlay Stafford’s goal just before the hour was the difference.

Early goals from Danny Warburton and Ste Ward helped Tempest United to a 2-1 win over Milnthorpe Corinthians, with Joe Dickinson halving the deficit after the break.

Ben Macdonald got the only goal as Millom edged past Burscough Richmond 1-0.

Onto Division One, where Freckleton secured a potentially vital victory in their survival bid, winning 5-2 at Crooklands Casuals to move three points clear of their opponents and the drop zone.

The visitors surged into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes, with Dan Threlfall, Jack Williams and Tayler Royle all on the scoresheet.

However, Crooklands fought back midway through the first half and Lee Irving scored twice to make things interesting heading towards half time.

James Jemson grabbed Freckleton’s fourth before Royle secured his double to make sure of the three points.

Ulverston Rangers drew 1-1 with Chipping as Mark Jackson’s opener was cancelled out.

In Division Two, another big game at the foot of the table saw Galgate triumph 3-1 over Hawcoat Park and move six points clear of their opponents, who sit rock bottom.

It was all square at the break as Matty Roberts responded to Jonathan Thom’s opener, but second half goals from Martin McCubbin and Oliver Jordan gave Galgate the win.

There was late drama as Dalton United rescued a 2-2 draw at Caton United, but it was the visitors who struck first through Matthew Pearson.

Caton turned the game on its head in the second half as Edward Harrison and Charlie Smith found the back of the net but Scott Paisley’s 94th minute goal sent both sides home with a point apiece.

In Reserve Division One, LSG Reserves’ cup action meant Hesketh Bank Reserves could climb to the top of the table with a win, and so they did after beating Poulton Reserves 4-2.

Elsewhere, Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves saw off Coppull Reserves 4-0, CMB Reserves beat Tempest Reserves 3-1 and Carnforth Reserves won 2-0 against Turton Reserves.

Not much change table-wise in Division Two Reserves but there was still an impressive 5-0 win for Stoneclough Reserves over Pause Reserves.

Meanwhile, Hurst Green Reserves took an 11-point lead at the top with victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Thornton Cleveleys A and Astley & Buckshaw Reserves secured a 3-2 win away to Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves.