1 minute read
James MACK III
“You’ve got a great bunch of lads who fight for you, ” he said. “And you will be missed
as a coach in this league. “We’re disappointed, but heads up because we have had a great run at this and I’m super proud. We were probably not at our best today but that is a credit to you. In reply Wilkinson said the win had capped a great celebratory weekend for the club.
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“I see so many similarities between us and Birkenhead, albeit for the last few years we’ve been chasing where they are at. “I watched the two U17s teams needling at each other for the second half of their match this afternoon and think it shows the utmost respect for Birkenhead that we have to be at our very best when we play. “I love that almost competitive edge there is between the teams and the fact everyone still has a beer after the game. “It (national league match) was a really tight game and was never going to be a game of a lots of chances and free flowing. “But as our skipper said to us after the game, sometimes you’ve just got to dig in and grind and together fight to get over the line. They are just as valuable as the ‘nice wins’ where you outplay teams. Wilkinson said it was hard singling out individuals because to a man the Melville players were superb. “But as a man of the match with the 50th jubilee and what has happened this weekend I can’t go past our skipper Aaron Scott. Elsewhere Ryen Lawrence turned in another terrific effort, while John Oakman was well worth his second successive start at right back. And Stafford Dowling returned to the starting line-up with a rugged front-running performance, while Raheem Hunter was cool under pressure at the back. Melville United 2 (Colloty 71'; Lagos 90'+4)
Birkenhead United 0
Melville United: 1. Max Tommy (GK), 3. Aaron SCOTT (c), 4. Luke SEARLE, 5. Campbell BROWN, 8. Liam HAYES, 9. Ryen LAWRENCE, 12. Oliver COLLOTY (10. Jerson LAGOS 77'), 15. Stafford DOWLING (11. Quinton KIPARA), 17. Josh GALLETLY, 18. John OAKMAN, 19. Raheem HUNTER Subs not used: 20 Conor Jamieson (GK), 2. Braedan QUILTER-PHIPPS, 13. Dylan WILLIAMS
