Mellor played like a team, held on to the ball, were aggressive and disciplined in defence and hit their opponents on the break. A really first class performance throughout the team.
The first quarter was a cagey affair. It was clear that there is a lot of history behind this fixture and both teams were anxious to do well and not make mistakes. This resulted in a very tactical start with few chances. It was 1-1 going into the break with Mellor’s only goal from a solo effort by Dan Jones. In the second quarter Will made a string of good saves to blunt the Stockport/Cheadle attack and then Mellor’s superior front line started to win the ball and carve out openings for themselves. Drew Bickerton popped in a nice one from close range after a neat pass from Dan Jones and then Josh Poke scored a superb solo goal to make it 1-3.
In the second half Mellor started with a very well worked goal scored neatly by Will Tadman. The home side rallied and with inspiration from their number 10 they started to make in-roads against the Mellor defence. They scored another to make it 2-4 and for a short while the balance of the game seemed to have swung in their favour but some crucial saves from Will Macdonald, including a low stop with his foot, stemmed the tide. Mellor then pushed back with goals by Dan Jones and a lovely solo effort from Josh Pink to end the quarter 3-6.
In the fourth quarter despite Mellor having no substitutes it seemed like the home side started to look more tired. Mellor’s defence tussled and wrestled in the muddy conditions and frequently Mellor seemed more hungry to pick up the ground balls. Rory Fell, Josh Haining and Nick Hughes were particularly solid during this period and when they won the ball they used it well. Up front the energy of Drew Bickerton always asked questions of the home defence and the goals started to flow. Josh Pink scored two fine solo efforts, Josh Poke scored with a characteristic power shot and Ben Tipping scored a very neat, well positioned goal too. It wasn’t all one-way traffic, Stockport/Cheadle were tough opponents but again and again they were thwarted by the Mellor defence and a some great saves from Will Macdonald. In the end Mellor ran out easy and very deserving winners 4-10. It should have been more but Dan Jones’ late blast was judged to have hit the net moments after the final whistle.
GOALS – Dan Jones 2, Drew Bickerton 1, Will Tadman 1, Josh Poke 2, Josh Pink 3, Ben Tipping 1
ASSISTS – Dan Jones 2, Drew Bickerton 1, Josh Pink 1
SAVES – 10
Man of the match – Bick felt that the whole team played well today but for consistently keeping the Stockport attack at bay the man of the man goes to Will Macdonald