Games review 22.4.06

The First Team closed the gap against Premiership rivals Heaton Mersey (who were winning a Rhodes Cup semi final at Wood Lane) to two points with a 4-3 win at Rochdalians, the eleventh time Mellor has won by the odd goal this season. The margin should have been more emphatic especially after Steve Ewing gave the visitors a 2-0 cushion, converting passes from Man of the Match Mike Palmer first and then Barry Dalby. Rochdalians, who lost the fixture 2-1 last year, pulled level before Terry Boon scored a fortuitous goal with a shot that hit the bar and bounced in off the goalkeeper's back. Again Rochdalians levelled only for Craig Frisby to score the winner with a header from a long forward pass. Martin Jackson and a Rochdalians defender were red carded for a tussle when the score was 3-3. If Mellor wins the last four game the club will be champions. Next up...South Manchester who thrashed Bedians on Saturday 5-1. The Seconds lost 1-3 at Torkington Park against Old Strets. First half defensive blunders cost Mellor dearly. Kev Murray should have given Mellor the lead after three minutes but instead of placing his shot he drove it high from an angle and a defender managed to head clear. Strets took the lead but Man of the Match Danny Hayes equalised with the best goal of the season, a blistering half volley from fully 30 yards that sailed into the top right hand corner of the net. The visitors hit back with two goals before the break. But in the second half Murray missed two more chances, Dean Hope skimmed the bar and Paul Robinson chipped over from a good position. The Thirds had no game. The Fourths' season ended with a disappointing 1-2 defeat away at Old Strets. Mike Sharpe scored for Mellor, who were reduced to 10 men when Ryan Yates went off injured after five minutes with no substitute available.

Other scores

DIVISION Premier

ABACUS MEDIA 6 2 BURNAGE METRO

DENTON TOWN 1 0 OLDHAM ALBION

HAZEL GROVE 5 2 NEWTON HEATH

OLD ASHTONIANS 4 4 BEECHFIELD UNITED

SOUTH MANCHESTER 5 1 BEDIANS

*** DIVISION A

BURNAGE METRO 1 3 DENTON TOWN

CHEADLE HULME 0 7 BEECHFIELD UNITED

HOOLEY BRIDGE CELTIC 9 3 HAZEL GROVE

*** DIVISION D

HOOLEY BRIDGE CELTIC A 3 5 WHALLEY RANGE

*** DIVISION F

MOSTON BROOK O B A 0 2 OLD STOCONIANS D

NEWTON A 1 0 BURNAGE METRO

Next week's games

Firsts v South Manchester (a)

Seconds v NO GAME

Thirds v Old Stocs (a)

Fourths v NO GAME

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