Mellor Thirds 6-0 Stoconians Seconds
Match report provided by Third Team Manager Adam Axford:
First half fog
Stocs are one of our 'bogey' teams and over the past few seasons we haven't had much joy against them so this was set to be a potentially difficult match.
We had a few more regular players back this week however we were still a a couple short, the Firsts were again postponed so we were able to call on Fats, Cooke and Cooney this week to lend a hand.
The game started well for Mellor, we dominated most of the early play and Stocs looked really out of sorts despite fielding what looked like most of their usually strong line up, minus the keeper which was their manager.
We pushed hard and defended well and eventually got our reward on 25 mins, a header from Immy was cleared off (defintely behind) the line but straight to Jack Kuehl on the edge of the box, he shifted it onto his right foot and drove it through the crowded box into the net. Just a minute later Fred Keyte who had been causing the Right Back no end of problems drove into the box and fired a shot at the keeper, he couldn't keep it out and we were 2-0 up, two goals in two minutes.
Half time came and the score remained 2-0, the instructions were to keep it tight at the back and make sure we made the most of any chances in the second half to put the game to bed.
Second half fog
We did just that, just two minutes into the second half we had a third. Cooke controlled well inside the box, dropping the ball at the feet of Jack Barraclough who drove it into the bottom corner. A few minutes later came the first substitutions, Craig Fairfield and Immy were replaced by Luke Skeer and Nick Entwistle.
On 60 minutes Ian A made it 4-0, Jack Kuehl with the long through ball, Arnie controlled well and found the net past the stricken keeper. Another sub was then made, James Langshaw replacing Andy Kuehl who was having a decent game at right back.
Four minutes later Jack Barraclough got his second of the game, Jack Kuehl again providing the assist to make it 5-0. Mellor were cruising at this point and were rarely threatened at the back.
The final subs were made, Kev Cooney and Johnny Valentine replacing Ian A and Johnny Cooke.
With 10 minutes to go Nick Entwistle got back into scoring form, firing home past a defender, the keeper was unsighted and barely flinched as the ball rippled the back of the net. No less than Mellor deserved for a dominating performance.
It was the second time in as many weeks we had won 6-0, two great performances and good for young Benn McGregor to keep two consecutive clean sheets.
Man of the match was Jack Barraclough for his two goals and a fantastic shift in central midfield.
The next game sees bottom of the league AFC Oldham Seconds visit Newall Green, let's hope for another good performance so we can improve on our league position.
Up the Thirds!
