By Dominic Macdonald
On the back of a winning the 6 a-side tournament Mellor fielded their strongest side for this re-run of last Sunday’s final. Poynton A were out for revenge and Mellor knew that they would be tested in this game. In the end Mellor’s experience and skill won through but the match wasn’t without its talking points. There are many areas for Mellor to improve on as they approach the Flags Final next month.
Mellor went a goal down early in slightly bizarre circumstances with play continuing after the ref had called an infringement. A weak shot found its way past the defence and Will - all thinking play had stopped. But that’s a lesson for the team to play to the whistle.
Mellor then started to take some control and the reply was rapid, a slightly lucky goal from Eddie Jenkins squeezed past the keeper. The Poynton number 11 was working hard and Will had to make the first of many saves in this first quarter. Mellor were undisciplined and too many of the older players were running with the ball rather than passing. However, eventually Tom Brady latched onto a Sam pass and popped it in to make it 2-1. Once Mellor could get their passing game going they showed why they have dominated the league this season. George Shonfeld scored a neat goal to make it 3-1 and Ben Tipping popped in number 4 right on the whistle.
But all was not well in the Mellor camp. The senior players were still holding on to the ball for too long and too often we lost the ball in midfield as those runs broke down. Poynton sensed that Mellor were looked a little ragged and pressed forward. Mellor’s defence didn’t have the positioning or aggression required and left the dangerous Poynton 16 to score a good goal from a virtually free position. However, when Mellor did put their passes together the magic flowed. Rick Shonfeld acknowledged that the next goal was Mellor’s goal of the season. From deep Ben Tipping flicked the ball to Drew Bickerton. Drew sent an instant long range ball up front to meet Sam Griffith’s cut-in and Sam caught it and scored in one easy action. Defence to attack – neat passing and BANG : 5-2. This should have heralded a rout but time and again Mellor held on to the ball for too long. When they did pass they almost invariably scored. It wasn’t all bad - Eddie scored a neat goal, followed by a solo effort from Ben Tipping to make it 7-2 – it just didn’t feel fluid. It was all too messy and Poynton weren’t finished yet. They scored a lucky effort that deflected and sent a well-positioned Will the wrong way. Then their number 18 went on a solo run and the Mellor defence melted away allowing a clean run on goal - it was 7-4. The minutes ticked away with both Drew and George guilty of holding on to the ball for too long as Mellor finished the half scrappily. Poynton were starting to look stronger. Was this a comeback?
Whatever was said to the Mellor team at halftime obviously paid off. The second half demonstrated why Mellor have been the team to beat this season. The older players started to trust the younger teams members with the ball, a more fluid passing game developed and in defence Alex Chalmers and Joe Kynaston started to show aggression and authority. Up front the ever busy Tom Brady scored from an awesome pass delivered by the quiet but influential Joey Bissell. Drew then finished a typical energetic run with a goal, Ben Tipping scored a fine goal from another assist by Joey and finally Sam scored another of his nonchalant, ruthless goals. Mellor finished a much, much better quarter 11 – 4 in the lead.
The final quarter saw the commitment, energy and teamwork really pay off. Now the Mellor beast seemed to have woken up and it was on the prowl! The quarter started with Will making a series of fine low saves from powerful long distance shots. Although the Poynton 16 did manage to score it was against the run of play and Mellor stormed back. Sam scored another of his classics, Ben Tipping went on a barging solo run and was rewarded with a fine finish and Tom Brady scored another neat couple of goals. It was 15-5. Jamie Mochan, George and Drew were busy in midfield using neat passing to get themselves out of trouble and Mellor were really bossing things. Poynton’s heads never went down however, which is a testament to their good coaching and team spirit but whenever they had a chance to shoot Will was there to clear up. Ben Tipping, who was now stamping his influence on the game scored the final Mellor goal and the team ran out worthy winners 16-5
What was really encouraging about this display was the work rate and growing confidence of the younger players. There’s a new Mellor team starting to take shape and it will form round the nucleus of Sam, Joe, Tom, Joey, George, Jamie, Alex and Eddie. The U-12’s will still be a force to be reckoned with next season. There are now two games left for the current team, both against Wilmslow, our opponents in the final. It won’t be easy but Mellor should take confidence from this emphatic victory over one of this season’s best teams.
Goals :
Ben Tipping 5
Sam Griffiths 3
Tom Brady 4
Drew Bickerton 1
Eddie Jenkins 2
George Shonfeld 1
Will saves : 14

Man of the match – Tom Brady