SHEFFIELD U14 v MELLOR U14 - Saturday March 14th
SHEFFIELD 9 – MELLOR 4
By Dominic Macdonald
Mellor can always expect tough opposition in a semi-final but it’s unlikely they have come up against a team this good for a long time. Sheffield were stronger, cleverer and quicker in virtually all areas and were able to boss the game for long periods, especially in the first half. Mellor were under the cosh right from the beginning and were never able to properly impose themselves on the game. However, they never let their heads go down and can be very proud of their efforts in this game.
It started badly. Sheffield had set themselves up for a fast passing game, relying on the big 31 to win the face-offs and dictate the play from the back. As Mellor froze in the headlights Sheffield banged in two quick goals from close on the right. They followed this up with a long range effort that blasted past Will in goal. Sheffield were 3-0 up before Mellor had had any meaningful possession. Finally though Mellor were able to hang on to the ball and show why they were playing in a semi-final. Josh Simpson-Pink lashed in a goal after a neat pass from Drew. For a minute or two it looked like Mellor could start clawing their way back but another great run from Sheffield’s number 31 led to another well taken goal. The quarter ended 4-1 with Mellor looking a little shell-shocked. Worse was to come.
Mellor started the second quarter with great spirit, particularly Drew who never stopped fighting. However, too many of the team were playing the man rather than the ball, missing passes or standing off the opposition and it wasn’t long before Sheffield scored again with a superb under-arm goal from the powerhouse number 31. Will wasn’t having one of his greatest games in goal and his normal consistency against long-range shots seemed to be slipping. Mellor’s attempts on goal were few and far between and too often meandering runs just came to nothing. In response Sheffield were fast and incisive. They made full use of the space Mellor gave them to attack at will and they ruthlessly man-marked in defence closing down and checking any runs made near the goal. The inevitable goal was scored towards the end of the half to make it 6-1 to Sheffield. With 15 seconds on the clock Mellor went on another aimless run and didn’t even make an attempt on goal. They were looking like being thrashed.
But the second half was different. Sheffield were still dominant but Mellor started fighting, started closing down and remembered that they too can be a very good team. From defence to attack the resistance stiffened. Will got on top of the pace of the balls coming at him and started playing well, his defence became more resolute and in particular the team started winning balls. Matt and Alex went on promising runs and finally Daniel Jones scored a goal that briefly lifted spirits. Drew and Matt followed up by going close but the flurry of activity in the Sheffield half came to an end with another barnstorming goal from the home team, scoring with a deflection when a much rehearsed move came right. Straight after this a long range effort flew in at high speed past Will who was left punching the ground in frustration. It was 8-2. At this point many teams would have given up but Mellor showed wonderful spirit. Matt, Joe and Pinky all had attempts saved and Mellor started to have the better of the game. Finally the effort paid off when Matt scored from a neat Josh Simpson-Pink pass. It was 8-3 and there were hopeful signs but those hopes were immediately dashed. The 31 won the face-off and went on a virtually unchallenged run, lashing it low past Will. 9-3 to Sheffield.
That was their last goal though. The final quarter was notable for Mellor’s increased work-rate and willingness to keep going even in the face of what looked like inevitable defeat. Mellor started to win the face-off and started to trouble the Sheffield defence with their speed. Will was now saving the largely long distance shots with ease, distribution improved and the busy work of Drew, Daniel, Matt and Alex was rewarded with a great goal from Matt. When the final whistle went it was 9-4. The better team was going on to the final but Mellor had shown that they were not just also-rans. They had reduced Sheffield to only three goals in the second half and had there been more bite and more accuracy to their game in the earlier part of the game it could have been a very different score.
Mellor man of the match – Drew Bickerton for his great spirit and energy

Best of luck to Sheffield in this years final.....