Mellor secure league double over Cheadle
MELLOR, last year's beaten Daily Telegraph Senior Flags finalists,
had plenty to celebrate at the weekend as they secured a league
double over Cheadle, the defending champions, in the North
of England League Premier Division. The Longhurst Lane club
have struggled against their arch-rivals in the past few seasons
and the trend looked like continuing this year when Cheadle
triumphed 16-10 in the Referee's Trophy.
But Mellor, the 2001-2002 league winners, are desperate to
reclaim the domestic crown and courtesy of four goals from
midfield trio Alisdair Wallace, Alistair Hodgson and Damien
Orr, they duly triumphed 16-7 at home to Brian Costello's
team.
Patrick Cunningham, a Greater Manchester policeman, also added
a hat-trick in his first game for a month, while Sam Smith
completed the scoring.
"We have never beaten Cheadle in so much style before,"
admitted Ben McAllister, the Mellor captain. "It was
a massive team performance, we just controlled the game and
to only be 5-3 up after the first quarter didn't do us justice
because we started really well and led 5-1."
Indeed, and victory was extra special for McAllister and
his title-chasing team who won without leading scorer Daniel
Hodgson, the experienced England international attacker who
was absent with a crack rib.
"I'm absolutely chuffed with the result, especially
without Daniel in the side," added McAllister, whose
side led 5-3, 6-4 and 11-5 respectively. "It was the
third quarter which won it for us, from then on Cheadle had
to chase the game and we opened them up."
Heaton Mersey remain top thanks to a comfortable 12-5 victory
at home to Brooklands Hulmeians, who dropped to the foot of
the table after their eighth successive defeat.
James Gallagher led the charge with four goals, increasing
his tally to 29 for the season, while older brother, Tom,
and Dan Heighway both netted hat-tricks as Mersey moved up
a gear having been held 3-3 at half-time.
Paul Fullerton top-scored with five goals for second-placed
Stockport in their 20-10 triumph against Wilmslow at Beech
Road, with Anthony Murphy, Dave Bryant and Thomas Gosnay all
scoring three each.
Rochdale recorded their first win of the season, coming from
9-7 behind to defeat Boardman & Eccles 13-12 with six
goals in the final quarter. Dave Bamford secured the win with
a goal two minutes from the end.
Weekend results
Men's North of England League - Premier Division:
Mellor 16, Cheadle 7; Heaton Mersey 12, Brooklands Hulmeians
5; Stockport 20, Wilmslow 10; Boardman & Eccles 12, Rochdale
13. Division 2: Norbury 7, Sheffield Steelers 15; Rochdale
A 3, Manchester Waconians A 16; Oldham 8, Heaton Mersey A
9; Brooklands Hulmeians A 4, Stockport A 27. Division 3: Mellor
A 12, Boardman & Eccles A 6; Heaton Mersey B 5, Ashton-under-Lyne
19; Manchester Waconians B 7, Poynton A 10. Division 4: Sheffield
Steelers A, Rochdale B postponed; Ashton-under-Lyne A 7, Poynton
B 4. Division 5: Boardman & Eccles B 4, Heaton Mersey
C 7; Brooklands Hulmeians B 13, Stockport C 4.
Women's North of England Premier League:
Mellor 12, Stockport 5.
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