Luke JORGENSEN

Dylan Williams, Joey Omotani, Harry Rose and Stafford Dowling came off the bench. Melville historian Ron Anorak said it was the club’s first win at national league level since a 5-2 home win against Nelson Suburbs on March 29, 1998. And it was the clubs biggest national league away win since beating Mt Maunganui 61 on February 2, 1997 (with a hat trick from Greg Larsen and other goals from Mark Cossey, Rod Cooper and Gordon Jon Thompson). The Christchurch win was also Melville’s equal biggest winning margin in the South Island, matching a 3-0 win over Woolston in 1997. Anorak said this was the sixth time this year Melville have had four different scorers in a match but was the first of those occasions where the goals scored had included both one from a headed corner and a free kick, and goals by a striker, midfielder and defender.

Wilkinson said team manager Seamus Marten also deserved a shout-out after working well under pressure. “To be at Christchurch airport 20 minutes after the final whistle and have everything under control was a very good warm up for being the new All Whites manager, as the rumour mill has it.

Christchurch United 2 (MacLennan 57'; Todd-Smith 80') Melville United 5 (Lawrence 7' , 30'; Hunter 36'; Colloty 42'; Galletly 53') Melville United: 1. Max Tommy (GK), 2. Braedan Quilter-Phipps (6. Joey Omotani 80'), 3. Aaron Scott (c), 8. Liam Hayes, 9. Ryen Lawrence (13. Dylan Williams 76'), 10. Jerson Lagos (15. Stafford Dowling 80'), 11. Quinton Kipara (7. Harry Rose 74'), 12. Oliver Colloty, 17. Josh Galletley, 18. John Oakman, 19. Raheem Hunter Sub not used: 20 Conor Jamieson (GK)