MELLOR RUN DEFENDING CHAMPS CLOSE IN WOMEN'S NOE LEAGUE

By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986)

MELLOR, one of the emerging clubs in the Women's North of England Premier League, gave defending champions Timperley a real fright at the weekend.

And, it had not been for missed chances at crucial times, the Longhust Lane ladies could have easily sprung arguably the surprise of the season thus far.

Timperley were nervous 12-11 winners as Mellor fought back to nearly take at least a share of the points for their battling efforts.

'We were gutted on Saturday night,' revealed Alison Duckworth, the Mellor captain. 'We felt we'd missed a great chance to beat Timperley.'

Indeed, but Duckworth and her ambitious side have targeted at least a second place finish this season as they continue to build on their continued development.

'Ideally we'd like to take that next step up and finish second this season, or of course higher,' added Duckworth. 'We've finished third for the last two seasons, but we've been getting better and better.'

Duckworth attributes that improvement down to a number of key factors, most importantly the arrival of Erin Acone, the club's American player-coach.

Acone, now in her third spell with the club, has 'done a great job' in helping Mellor improve according to her skipper.

'Three years ago we got a coach for the first time. Erin has made a massive difference,' she added.

'We've done well for the last three years, but we're now looking to make that move up and beat the likes of Timperley and Heaton Mersey.

'They are both the best two sides in the league and we've never beaten them. We lost to Mersey in extra-time last season.

'We were two or three goals down on Saturday, but we had a good comeback and could have won the match.

'In the end we didn't, but as a club we started off with nothing a few years ago and we've developed so much. It's been a real learning curve for the club.'

Wirral demonstrated their improvement with a 6-6 draw against Stockport, one of the better women's teams in recent times.

Mersey made it four wins from as many games with a convincing 13-1 victory away to second-from-bottom Brooklands Hulmeians, but Timperley stay top by virtue of a better goal difference than their closest rivals.

Mellor are third with ten points, two points behind the pace, with Stockport in fourth with nine points from four games.

Leeds Penguins registered their second win of the season, a 15-1 triumph away to bottom club Wilmslow.

Liverpool were gifted the points with a walkover against Timperley A, their opponent's failed to fulfil the fixture.

Results, Saturday 11th October

WOMEN's North of England Premier League: Stockport Sharks 6 Wirral 6, Timperley 12 Mellor 11, Brooklands Hulmeians 1 Heaton Mersey 13, Wilmslow 1 Leeds Penguins 15, Timperley A v Liverpool (Liverpool won by walkover).

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