Match Reporter : Andy Liles.

With the morning sun breaking through it was the long awaited first game of the season for a new look Mellor Under 12 side, with no less than 5 debutants fom the squad of thirteen. The new players were Jack Latham, Sammy Chalmers, James Peel, Noah Barlow and Jack Royle (returning after a year out). The Under 12’s also have a new joint management team of Kate and Cirion Plant who, despite an early set back due to missing car keys, brought an air of calmness to proceedings.
This year the Under 12’s have no dedicated Goalkeeper, Frederick Jenkins was the first volunteer to don the pads for the first two quarters.
Stockport won the first face and after a breakdown in the Mellor midfield took their chance to make it one nil. From the restart Mellor tried to assert themselves with an excellent shot from Jack Royle but as the ball moved back up field some keen checking from Toby Halls saw Stockport score from the restart. Jake Fell showed what he can do with a strong run from defence, pass to Finn Howie who forced an excellent save from the Stockport keeper. Stockport again broke quickly and in their keenness to defend strongly Mellor were down to 8 players, under pressure Frederick produced a great save and passed the ball up field were the Stockport keeper also produced a great save from Miles Plant. Stockport finished the quarter strongly and scored again to finish the quarter three nil up.
Ellis Booy was the face off man for Mellor at the start of quarter two, Stockport scored first again to make it four nil. Mellor kept at them though and Finn Howie scored the first of the season after an assist from Noah Barlow. Unfortunately Stockport scored from the face . After another fine save from Frederick we had another goal for the strong away support to cheer with a goal from Miles Plant with an assist for Eddie Liles. There was then a period of play where despite both teams having chances Stockport took three of theirs to make it 8 v 2 at half time.
A change of keeper for Mellor with Toby Halls donning the pads for the final two quarters. Angus Wilson offered to go in search of sustenance for the away support, the bacon butties from Funky Monkey have set a high standard for the rest of the season.
Eddie Liles took the face but Stockport scored twice to take the score to 10 v 2. The Mellor boys had never looked out of it though and the new look squad now began to string some excellent lacrosse together with Jack Royle scoring from a Finn Howie assist. Stockport scored two more but then following another fine run from defence by Jake Fell and a pass off to Jack Royle who scored to close the quarter 12 v 4.
In the final quarter Mellor continued to build on their third quarter with three more goals, two more for Jack Royle and one for Ellis Booy. All of these following play in the Stockport half with Mellor exerting a lot of pressure and capitalising on any loose balls.
A very tough first game, played with a fantastic spirit from both teams. Man of the match was Jack Royle for his four goals, and also a special mention for another debutant Noah Barlow who had a very strong first game in the Mellor midfield.