Mellor Thirds 5-3 Moston Brook Thirds
Match report provided by Third Team Manager Adam Axford:
After three straight wins we were high on confidenc heading into a game against a team we had previously dispatched 1-8 away from home earlier in the season.
The mood was high and it felt like some players were expecting an easy game against a Moston side who had lost 10 times already in the league this season. This wasn't going to be the case and the game started really evenly with both sides creating chances and causing the defences problems.
It wasn't until the 21st minute that we took the lead, Fred Keyte delivering a dangerous cross from the left which captain Jack Kuehl gladly headed home for his 7th of the season. After taking the lead we continued to create goal scoring opportunities but we couldn't find the finish.
Most faught back, two contraversial goals, the first following a blatent foul and the second a ridiculous offside saw Moston equalise and then take the lead for the first time in the game. We were unlucky not to make it level before half time, firstly Nick Broadway driving from range against the foot of the post and then the keeper pulling off a great save with the last action of the first half.
At half time we dusted ourselves down and prepared for another tough half. Ian Arnfield got us back in the game 6 minutes into the half. Fred Keyte again providing the assist after beating the right back and cutting across goal for a tap in. We then took the lead on 59 minutes. Nick Broadway grabbed his first goal of the season with a great finish into the top corner from just inside the box.
Five minutes later Moston caught us out again, a quick thrown down the right hand side and a run up the byline saw a cross turned in to draw it back to 3-3.
Moston began to tire but our relentless attacks failed to produce another goal until the 88th minute. Sub Rick Axford cut in and his deflected shot fell to Chris Barlow who steered it home into the bottom right hand corner to make it 4-3. Moston were deflated but Mellor kept coming. Fred Keyte beating 3 men on a great run into the box before being tripped for a penalty. Second leading scorer Nick Entwistle confidently stepped up to slot home for 5-3.
We deserved the win in the end but we will have to perform better against the higher placed teams, this was a bit of a let-off in the end.
We have a tough game next week against Signol Reserves, almost a year to the day since we last played them.
Up the Thirds!
