CUP QUARTER FINAL
CHEADLE HULME 1 - MELLOR 20
This was another barnstorming victory from Mellor, with the forwards in particularly hungry mood after a thin diet of fixtures this year so far. However, the score-line hid the real success story of the game which was Mellor’s defence. Time and again a gallant Cheadle Hulme tried to pierce the armoured shield of Mellor’s zonal defence and time and again they were out thought and out fought by a solid wall of experienced defenders. Ben Mochan looked particularly strong in the centre of defence and his distribution was accurate and incisive, demonstrating how much he has improved this season. John Haining and Josh Poke also had very good games. They remained disciplined when defending but were also able to use their speed to break out and instigate attacks. Josh Poke scored a particularly fine solo effort at the beginning of the fourth quarter and whipped in great crosses all morning. Cheadle Hulme were neat and tidy and played with a fine spirit but they were no match for the Mellor defence and when Mellor had the ball on the attack they were devastating.
Mellor’s opening goal was scored by Joe Hussey from the face-off and set the tone for the rest of the game. Joe saw a lot of action in this quarter scoring three fine goals. Mellor finished the first quarter a comfortable 4-0 up. The second quarter saw six more goals for Mellor with the Cheadle Hulme goalkeeper performing some great saves to keep the score close to respectable. Joe Hussey spun right round, baby right round so many times he left the crowd dizzy but the Cheadle keeper too often provided a solid wall to deny him. However, a lacrosse goalie can’t defend on his own and Mellor’s snappy passing always found a way through the defence in the end. Daniel Jones was the star goal scorer in this quarter with three goals. Mellor slowed down their scoring rate in the third quarter and Cheadle managed their one successful attack when their number 26 broke through to deny Will Macdonald another clean sheet. However, it was the last time Will was bothered by the game. Mellor ended the third quarter 12-1 up. In the final quarter, Cheadle’s legs and spirits started to sag as Mellor turned the screw. Any tourist leaving on a jet plane through the grey skies above Stockport would have looked down to see another six goals blasted in by Mellor. Drew Bickerton, Josh Pink, Joe Hussey and Sam Griffiths sealed the game for the visitors. In the end Cheadle Hulme couldn’t cope with the speed and strength of Mellor and lacked the speed and guile up front to trouble their opponents. Mellor showed once again that good solid defence can always be turned into devastating attack.
Man of the match – Ben Mochan

Dominic Macdonald