'the greatest ever Melee team'?

There are certain moments in life that define who you are, conjure what you believe in and even alter the course of history. Last night became one of those moments - Melee London Westminster PitchInvasion Premier League Winners. There are suggestions from some that this side has now become 'the greatest Melee team of all time' and who could blame them with 2 back to back promotions followed by the premierships number 1 spot.

With Hoylake FC and Melee level on points at the top of the table with one game to play it felt like a cup final atmosphere on a mild novembers night.   With the stakes at an all time high and the excitement of witnessing greatest the game drew in Melees biggest crowd of the season as friends and family gathered in anticipation of the winning that title trophy

Hoylake kicked off and started very physically whilst knocking the ball around, as did Melee with slightly more style and movement. However some quick closing down from both teams made it tricky to string many passes together. Melee once again began with their now traditional slow start and conceded by getting caught at the back. 1-0. Melee definitely knew they were in for a game.

A response followed after some nice play,  Fabio rolling the ball out onto Kev who slotted home from the angle. 1-1. Melee now into the game started to create chances with a couple of near misses before Jack buried a lovely half volley with the keeper out of his goal. 2-1. Again some long balls from the opposition keeper were causing issues in the defence and one broke favourably to a Hoylake player who finished nicely before half time. 2-2.

Melee started the second half well and quickly got back after some lovely interchange in midfield leaving Pils to slot just pass the out rushing keeper. 3-2. Suddenly the game started to change and out of Melees control. Hoylake came back into it and started to get the upper hand,applying a great deal of pressure with Melee resigned to playing on the break. This didn't pay off and soon more of the long ball stuff started to work, Hoylake with two quick goals.  Suddenly 4-3 up.

Melee needed a response as the game could have run away from them and it came in the the unusual form of Nicky Foster who hit an absolute humdinger from distance,driven low under the corner with mesmerising velocity. What a time to pull your best goal for Melee out of the hat. 4-4.

However once again long ball proved difficult to deal with and a very scrapy goal led to another tap in for Hoylake. Melee down once again 5-4.

With time running short Melee knew they needed that one goal to draw level and take the title on goal difference. Some frantic play at either end left the crowd on the edge of their seat. Once more Foz gave the Melee fans something to cheer about as tensions rose, by being in the right place at the right time, finding himself out of position in the oppositions penalty box. After some short passes and some blocked tackles the ball fell at Foz's feat for him to cooly slot home into the corner in true Robbie Fowler style (the first and last time Foz will ever be referred to as skills like God!). 5-5 

With more heart in the mouth stuff at either end, one goal either way would turn the game once again. Wave after wave came from Hoylake with Fabio pulling off a string of majestic saves taking his total to way into double figures for the game and picking up his man of the match performance for keeping Melee in the game. With the opposition keeper getting desperate and coming up in attack, the ball broke to Fabio whose long range effort only just drifted wide. The game could have gone either way but a quick counter attack saw a one two three between Jack, Kev and Pils, leaving Pils free on the left to shoot at goal. The ball deflected off the keeper straight back across goal where Kev followed up to smash the ball home and give Melee that all important cushion right before the final whistle. Melee 6 - 5 Hoylake. - Melee crowned Premiership champions to the sounds of the fans singing Champione, Champione, Ole, Ole, Ole. WHAT. A. GAME. what a season.

Special thanks has to go out to Justyn who came and didn't manage to get on, Dave S for his performances earlier in the season before injury, his Dad Vince for the support and the couple of Janes who made it along to cheer on Melee too.  

The table reads so sweetly, with Melee sitting right at the top