Maiden goals from two 16-year-olds and a masterclass goalkeeping performance from super Max Tommy earned Melville a vital first-up 2-1 away win over Manukau United in their first outing down in the northern league championship (old first division) since winning it back in 2018.

Melville made the perfect start when Max Mitchell, playing down the left flank, scored in just the sixth minute after Manukau failed to clear from a Melville throw in. 

The delight at Mitchell grabbing his first northern league goal so early in the piece was magnified much more when fellow teenager Josh Barrymore-Uden, playing down the right flank, doubled the lead in the 20th minute, following good work from 18-year-old Thomas Cave.

The margin of comfort allowed Melville to play with confidence in the first half, on a day when the starting XI was without a number of the more senior players we had seen on display during pre-season. That included Jama Boss who was apparently overseas.

But if Melville looked comfortable at half time, they copped a searching examination in the second half, where they seldom got out of their own territory.

The Melville defence, which featured 16-year-old Tomas Blackhall making his northern league debut and getting through a full 99 minutes, and Joel McMullan in his first outing as Unicorns' captain, was under constant pressure.

Manukau had a goal disallowed for offside but finally pulled a goal back in the 76th minute when a long shot from Connor Probert took a dodgy bounce off a below-par surface on a match played on the Walter Massey Park No 2 pitch.

However veteran Tommy - older than Mitchell and Barrymore-Uden combined - came to the rescue with a string of brilliant last-gasp saves to secure the points for Melville.

Melville found the officiating frustrating, and late in the second half goalkeeping coach Tony Govorko was red-carded, as was sub Dylan Williams in stoppage time after

Melville found the officiating frustrating, and late in the second half goalkeeping coach Tony Govorko was red-carded, as was sub Dylan Williams in stoppage time after questioning one of a number of curious refereeing decisions.

Noah Harrison-Old, 17, came off the bench to make his first team debut late in the match, as did 18-year-old Jake Bell.

There was no aftermatch. A sign in the clubrooms said no liquor licence had been approved.

Melville are away to Mt Albert Ponsonby - beaten 2-1 by Northern Rovers first up - next week. 

Melville lineup: Max Tommy, John Oakman, Tomas Blackhall, Joel McMullan, Campbell Brown (Jake Bell 79 min), Josh Barrymore-Uden, Max Mitchell (Dylan Williams 49 min), Ryen Lawrence, Connor Austin, Josh Galletly (Noah Harrison-Old 89 min), Thomas Cave. 

# Melville Reserves, coached this season by Scott Parsonage,  lost 4-1, with their only goal coming from Butros Beqain in the 64th minute. Two Manukau goals came in stoppage time, when Manukau were down to 10 players.

# Sean Leadley, who left Melville so he could play northern premier league football, came off the bench for Wanderers in their 4-0 win over Hibiscus Coast.

Article added: Sunday 23 March 2025