This was another very one-sided game for Mellor against a Sheffield team who never gave up but also never looked like breaking through Mellor’s defence. Will Macdonald’s first shut-out of the season wasn’t about saves, he only touched it four or five times. In front of Will Joe Kynaston was very reliable and played neat, unselfish, intelligent lacrosse throughout. Alex Chalmers, playing up from the U12’s didn’t look out of place either and between them they snuffed out whatever threat Sheffield posed. In the middle and up front Sam, Tom and Drew bossed the midfield and forward areas, scoring at the end of slick moves or creating goal scoring opportunities for the others. This is a very unselfish team and it was good to see such accurate passing and clinical finishing. The movement was fluid and when they needed to be the boys were also up for a physical challenge. Joey Bissell and Oli Plant from the U12s fitted in well with the team and scored three good goals each. Sam Griffiths, Ben Hodgson and Tom Brady were top scorers with four goals each and it was good to see Rufus getting on the scoresheet three times – his speed was a welcome addition to Mellor’s range of options. Drew scored a couple of typically eccentric goals from close in, the second involving him launching himself across the goal and shooting while in mid-air (try it…it’s tricky) However, the best goals were scored in the third quarter when Mellor switched the team around and Joe Kynaston went up front. Allowed to be more selfish than his usual self he responded with three well taken goals, the third being the best of the bunch which he slammed into the roof of the net, earning him the nickname “the beast”. Eddie Jenkins had a quiet but industrious game scoring just one goal but he was always involved in the action. The score breakdown was :

Q1 6-0, Q2 12-0, Q3 18-0 and Q4 27 - 0

There will be much tougher games this season and you get the feeling that this U14 team haven’t been truly tested yet. But they are working well as a team with a solid spine, good formation, competitive spirit and real skills.

GOALS

Joe Kynaston 3 Drew Bickerton 2 Rufus Lancaster 3 Tom Brady 4 Sam Griffiths 4 Ben Hodgson 4 Eddie Jenkins 1 Joey Bissell 3 Oli Plant 3

WILL SAVES – 3

Man of the match – Joe Kynaston