On a heavy pitch and against a pumped-up Stockport team, Mellor started the first quarter with their usual patient and tactical passing but failed to take advantage of early opportunities to score. The first goal of the quarter, in the ninth minute, saw Stockport take the lead. Despite Mellor’s composure, the strong defending, prowling threats from Daniel Jones and a flurry of shots from Sam Griffiths, Ben Tipping, Joe Hussey and Josh Pink, couldn’t compensate for the scrappy play and some uncharacteristic nervy finishing. The score remained 1-0 at the end of the fairly evenly matched quarter.

The second quarter opened with a solid attacking move from Mellor originating from a face-off win and subsequent pass by Josh Poke. The Stockport keeper collected the ball and a quick pass out allowed Stockport to break on the counter attack, which resulted in their second goal. Mellor maintained a good deal of control over play but chances to score were not being realised, while Stockport’s better finishing was paying dividends. Mellor watched a third and forth pass them in the space of three more minutes. Heads didn’t drop and it only took a few more moments for the Mellor boys to finally score their opener after a Daniel Jones pass to Joe Hussey – it had taken an unprecedented 25 minutes of play! A reaction save by Will MacDonald kept Stockport at bay and his pinpoint long pass out concluded in a goal, closely followed by another from the restart. The first came from Josh Pink after some typically patient build-up play and the next from Josh Poke who received a precision pass from Drew Bickerton, dummied a defender and sent the ball in to the net. Despite one more goal from Stockport in the 28th minute, the quarter proved pivotal for Mellor as, despite the score, they started gaining the upper hand for longer periods and more confident play was apparent.

Drive and determination symbolised the third quarter. Mellor flew out of the starting blocks on an attack that saw an effort from Joe Hussey blocked but still ended with a superb individual goal from Daniel Jones. Coupled with further probing attacks from Drew Bickerton, the balance of play certainly seemed to be shifting even further in Mellor’s favour and was setting the tone for the rest of the game. A defensive turnover by Josh Poke on the left, that drew a Stockport foul in response, led to another attack and shot from Daniel Jones who was only denied by some excellent keeping. Stockport were still fighting very hard and when they responded with two goals with five minutes of the quarter remaining, a time out was called – an inspiring talk judging by the team’s response. Scoring Mellor’s fifth was Sam Griffiths after an assist by Dan Pawsey. A sixth stemmed from a superb check from Dan Pawsey that led to a sustained attack and goal by Dan Jones from a Nick Hughes assist. Dan Jones fired off a blinding shot that ding-donged off the keeper’s helmet and flew merrily on high over the goal. The 7th came from Josh Pink as he received a pass from Joe Hussey behind the Stockport goal. By now Stockport were really losing their composure and Mellor took the opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the game – a Dan Jones pass and Sam Griffiths shot made certain of that.

The final quarter and Stockport would not let it lie, scoring two more goals just to keep the pressure on. Excellent defending was the name of the game this quarter - Ben Mochan, Josh Haining, and Joe Kynaston creating an almost impenetrable wall, lightening saves by Will MacDonald and a crucial defensive turnover by Ben Mochan all thwarted Stockport early in the quarter. Meanwhile Drew Bickerton conjured up two individually created goals. As Mellor really took control of the game, the ubiquitous Dan Jones provided the icing on the cake and a goal that saw Stockport well and truly defeated 11-9. At the final whistle the relief was palpable and the fighting spirit of the Mellor U12s indisputable.