Mellor Thirds 3-2 Chorltonians Rovers
Match report provided by Third Team Manager Adam Axford:
Unbeaten in six games having won five and drawn our last vs Signol we were in good form heading into a Quarter Final cup match versus our Division Leaders Chorltonians Rovers. Chorlts notoriously have strong XIs throughout their club so we knew we were going to be tested.
With another strong line up we started the game really well, testing Chorlts after the first few minutes and soaking up their attacks with relative ease. It was obvious from the first few minutes that Chorlts were intending on launching the ball up to their lofty centre forward who won all of his early aerial challenges.
It took just 10 minutes for Mellor to break the deadlock, Nick Entwistle lobbing the ball over the hapless keeper who left himself stranded inside the 18 yard box, the ball ended up being headed over the line by a defender desperately trying to clear it however it was on target so Nick can claim the goal.
Chorlts replied 10 minutes later, a sloppy free kick was conceded just outside the Mellor box. The kick was passed towards goal and took an awkward deflection which wrong footed the keeper and dropped into the far corner of the net.
The game stayed level until half time despite our best efforts, including a well struck corner from Fred Keyte which went right across the goal line but lacked the finishing touch to poke it home.
Half time saw the departure of midfield Nick Broadway who left for a family gathering ahead of his move to Australia for a year, we wish him all the best! He was replaced by Rick Axford who moved out to the right with Chris Barlow slotting into the middle.
On 53 minutes we finally took the lead again, Fred Keyte who had been causing the Right Back all kinds of problems finally got his goal. He cut inside from the left and fired home after beating 2/3 men.
We continued to dominate the play with Chorlts causing the odd problem, everything dangerous was coming through their tall number 9. Chorlts got one back with around 15 minutes to go, if it had stayed 2-2 we would have been heading straight to penalties under the newly formed Cup rules.
We didn't give up, pressing at every opportunity but lacking the final finish until Jonny Valentine slipped Jack Barraclough past the defence. The ball appeared to be over hit however the keeper hesitated and Jack was able to knock it round him and squeeze it home from a tight angle to win it for Mellor with 5 minutes left of the 90!
The game stayed 3-2 and Mellor are through to the Semi Finals where they face a tough away trip to fellow Division A side Whalley Range Thirds. This will be another tough game having been humiliated by WR in the second game of the season up at Wood Lane. We were however lacking match fitness and missing a few key players for that game.
The next game for the Thirds is another home tie versus struggling Hargreaves who sit 13/14 in Divison A.
Up the Thirds!
