By Neil Goulding
MELLOR and Wilmslow will contest this season's Daily Telegraph Northern Senior Flags final on Sunday 27 April at Rochdale Lacrosse Club.
Champions last in 2001, Mellor upset Men's North of England League Premier Division high-fliers Timperley 8-6 in their semi-final showdown at Cale Green, while Wilmslow, who have never won the Flags - or even reached the semis before yesterday - battled hard to beat former winners Cheadle 13-9 at Wilmslow Road.
Mark Greaney was Mellor's star performer as last season's runners-up - beaten 9-3 by Manchester Waconians in the 2007 final - ended their opponents' title-double hopes.
The on-song attacker top-scored with five goals, with Alistair Wallace, Oliver Hall and Steve Roche also on the mark.
Max Sandy bagged a brace for Timperley, while Andy Brickell, Mike Armstrong, John Hammond and skipper Rob Macklin were on target.
But Macklin's side trailed 5-3 at half-time and never managed to get back on level terms.
"I'm really pleased for everyone, it was a good win. We've been threatening to play as well as that for a long time," reflected Mellor captain Ben McAllister.
The England goalkeeper added: "We were in control all the way through. It's perfectly set up for a great final, everyone will be up for it. Wilmslow have turned us over twice this season, but we know we can beat them. We want to make up for the embarrassment [of losing to Wacs] last year."
Macklin was understandably disappointed with defeat and has now stressed his team, second in the Premier Division, make sure they win their remaining two domestic fixtures if they are to stand any chance of winning silverware this season.
"We didn't play well, we turned the ball over too much," admitted Macklin. "We made tiny errors, but it wasn't nerves. We've got two league matches left - and we've got to win both of them.
"It's frustrating that we've let the chase for the league title get out of our hands, but all we can do is win and see what Wilmslow do."
Wilmslow, who are now the only team who can win a league and Senior Flags double, have four remaining fixtures. Victory in all of them would guarantee the Cheshire club their first ever Premier Division title and highest-ever finish in the top flight.
England ace Mark Reynolds led from the front with four goals, with Chris Mountney, Tommy Foster and Ashley Tarran-Jones netting twice each.
John Kenny, Dan Green, John Mountney and Robert Messenger were also on the scoresheet as Wilmslow led 3-2 after the first quarter, before running away with the second quarter 5-0 for a healthy 8-2 half-time lead.
The third quarter was shared 3-3, before Cheadle won the last quarter 4-2. But it was not enough to halt Wilmslow's progress.
Daren Baythorpe was Cheadle's chief goalscorer with four goals, American Tucker Prudden scored a hat-trick, with Andrew Beard and Dave Carmen with the rest.
Wilmslow spokesman Clive Perrin praised his club's first team for a starring performance and said: "Hopefully we can now go one step better and win the Flags.
"We've never been to a Senior Flags final before - and this was our first [Senior Flags] semi-finals. We've also never finished higher than fifth in the Premier Division, so it's already been a remarkable season."
This season's Junior Flags final will be contested between promoted Aston-under-Lyne and Sheffield Steelers. Ashton, Junior Flags winners in 1991, edged Boardman and Eccles 11-10 in a golden-goal thriller, while Steelers, champions last in 1984, defeated Heaton Mersey A 11-3.
Peter Sylvester and Chris Wainer top-scored with a hat-trick each for Steelers as they led 7-4 at half-time and dug deep to whitewash their opponents 4-0 in the second half.
Dave Alcock bagged a brace, while Alex Williams, Omar Dupree and a 60-yard individual strike from Rhodrey Evans did the damage.
"I'm incredibly proud of my time, it was one of our best performances of the season against Mersey," praised Steelers skipper Sam Glover.
"But it's also great to see the A-team and Sheffield University through to finals."
Meanwhile, Simon Stocks netted a golden goal winner for Ashton after their clash with Division Two leaders Boardman.
Stocks and Ross Allen scored hat-tricks, Ean Robinson top-scored with four goals and Dave Schofield was also on target.
Ashton won the opening quarter 3-2, the second 2-1, shared the third 3-3 and, even though Boardman won the final quarter 3-1 to force extra-time, it was Ashton who clung on for a famous victory.
An Ashton spokesman said: "It's a fantastic achievement for us, especially considering we only got promoted from Division Three last season."
Brooklands Hulmeians beat Poynton 13-5 to progress to the semi-finals of the Lancashire Cup - and they will now play Stockport in the semi-finals on Saturday 29 March.
Stockport, Manchester Waconians and Rochdale all went through to the semi-finals after their opponents conceded their quarter-final matches.
Timperley A will play Sheffield University in the Stockport Cup final, Cheadle Hulme meet Sheffield Steelers A in the David Beesley Cup, with Leeds pitted against Rochdale B in the Nigel Wayne Trophy final. All finals will be contested at this year's Festival Weekend at Bridgefold Road (26-27 April).
Results
Sunday 9th March
MEN's Northern Senior Flags (all semi-finals): Mellor 8 Timperley 6, Wilmslow 13 Cheadle 9.
Junior Flags: Heaton Mersey A 4 Sheffield Steelers 11, Boardman and Eccles 10 Ashton-under-Lyne 11 (9-9 full time, 10-10 after extra-time, Ashton won with golden goal).
Saturday 8th March
Lancashire Cup - quarter-finals: Poynton 5 Brooklands Hulmeians 13, Cheadle A 0 Manchester Waconians 1, Rochdale 1 Nottingham 0, Heaton Mersey 0 Stockport 1.
Stockport Cup (all semi-finals): Wilmslow A 7 Timperley A 16, Sheffield University 6 Poynton A 5.
David Beesley Cup: Cheadle Hulme 6 Cheadle B 5, Sheffield Steelers A 19 Oldham A 1.
Nigel Wayne Trophy: Leeds 13 Norbury A 4, Rochdale B 13 Liverpool 4.
Men's North of England League - Division Two: Manchester Waconians A 3 Stockport A 15.
Division Three: Norbury 28 Manchester Waconians B 4, Mellor A 13 Brooklands Hulmeians A 9. Postponed: Stockport B v Sheffield University.
Division Four: Poynton B 7 Timperley B 10.
Division Five: Hull 9 Brooklands Hulmeians C 18, Ashton-under-Lyne A 11 Stopfordians A 6.
