Mellor Firsts 6-2 Newton Heath Firsts - RHODES CUP FINAL

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Si Dalby, assisted by Ben Beer led the First Team to a fourth consecutive Rhodes Cup Final, previous results:

2015-16 - Whalley Range 2-1 Mellor

2014-15 - Mellor 1-0 Whalley Range

2013-14 - Mellor 1-3 Rochdalians

Mellor were looking to make amends for last season's disappointing Final result, losing by the odd goal to bitter rivals Whalley Range in a closely contested game. Mellor knocked out Whalley Range in the Semi Final, beating them at their own ground with a last minute strike from in-form striker Liam Millen.

The venue for the Final was again Gigg Lane, home of Bury FC, a great venue for the players appearing in the prestigious L&C First Team Cup Final.

Starting XI and Substitutes:

Kev Cooney

Cain Harrold Craig Fairfield Dave Whelan David Dunn

Bruce Clarke Chris Coram Dom Randle (c) Johnny Cooke

Joe Dalby

Liam Millen

Subs: Ben Beer Liam McAuley Mark Oldham Marc Green (GK)

The game:

Dom Randle captained Mellor in the absence of stalwart Paul Swann who was unfortunately unavailable for the Final.

Mellor kicked the game off and immediately looked comfortable in possession. Randle and Coram were cool on the ball in the middle with Cooke, Dalby and Clarke all looking dangerous in possession.

We didn't wait long for the first goal, Cooke laid down the line by Dalby cut back and beat the full back before squaring to Dunn who had made a great run from left back. Dunn poked the ball home into the far corner to make is 1-0 with just over a minute on the clock.

Just two minutes later Clarke was hacked down just inside the Newton Heath half. The resulting free kick was swung in dangerously buy Joe Dalby and found Craig Fairfield who beat the keeper with a powerful header into the top right corner. It was 2-0 to Mellor with four minutes on the clock.

Mellor continued to look the better team, outclassing Division 1 Newton Heath. Clarke and Cooke were both causing problems for the respective full backs.

On nine minutes we saw the first card of the game, Whelan cautioned for what the ref saw as deliberate hand ball, a cross from wide clipping his arm just outside the box. The resulting free kick was arrowed towards the top corner by the tall NH striker but Cooney was equal to it and tipped it over the bar for a corner.

Around 5 minutes later Newton Heath pulled a goal back, undone by a quick one-two Mellor failed to deal with a pass across the edge of the box which was eventually stroked home by an attacker, 2-1. A couple of minutes later a mix up at the back for Mellor let NH back into the box however the striker rifled over the bar.

Straight up the other end Mellor were again causing problems for NH, a cross from the left found Clarke in the box, he turned the defender and appeared to lose control but recovered only to be fouled by the keeper, penalty to Mellor. Liam Millen stepped up and confidently passed the ball into the bottom right hand corner to restore the two goal cushion, 3-1 to Mellor. The NH keeper appeared to pick up a knock during the foul and was left holding his side in the aftermath.

On 26 minutes we made it 4-1. Randle with some great footwork found Cooke in space inside the box, Cooke turned and unselfishly squared to Millen at the back post who fired into the roof of the net. Mellor were in complete control at this point.

Ten minutes before the interval Dunn again delivered a dangerous ball into the box, Dalby got a toe to it but couldn't bring it down and was flagged offside. A few minutes later the ball fell to a NH striker, he was clean through on the edge of the box, he tried to chip Cooney but the ball came back off the bar and was then cleared by Fairfield.

The half came to an end with the NH keeper being replaced by a midfielder, unable to recover from the earlier knock he picked up.

Half Time: Mellor 4-1 Newton Heath

Newton Heath got the Second Half underway. After recovering possession Dunn tricked his was past two NH players but lashed his shot just past the top corner. Minutes later Millen found himself on the edge of the box and fired at goal but the keeper parried just over the bar for a corner.

At the back, Fairfield and Whelan were dealing with all the long balls and providing Cooney with a great screen from the NH attacks.

On 52 minutes McAuley game on for Clarke who had a great game, Millen moved out wide and Mellor kept the starting formation. Just two minutes later a great whipped corner from Cooke was sliced into his own net by the NH centre back, 5-1 to Mellor.

At 60 minutes Clarke came back on for Harrold who'd had a really good game at right back. From the restart NH broke and grabbed a goal back to make it 5-2. Mellor still looked good for their lead and were not really under pressure. This showed as straight up the other end McAuley, flicking the ball over a defender volleyed the ball home, a cracking finish to make it 6-2.

The last 20 minutes were frustrating for Mellor, dominating possession but being caught out by the offisde trap. With 10 to go Oldham replaced Dunn at left back.

The game petered out, some handbags with a couple on the block, clearly the NH players were getting frustrated but the ref dealt with things well.

Full Time: Mellor 6-2 Newton Heath

The Trophy and Medals presentations: