Late double ends FA Cup hopes

Kempston Rovers struck twice late on to advance to the next round.

For manager Dave Hennessey in his first FA Cup match, it was far from easy facing opposition a step higher in the FA Pyramid. It would have been good to be at full strength but the two earlier league games against Fakenham and Hadleigh resulted in several injuries.

Combined with holidays and working rotas, the Melford boss had to make four changes to Wednesday’s starting line-up against Hadleigh, including young Tyler Shillingford making his debut at full back.

It was a courageous effort from Melford, but the energetic efforts from the previous games in the week definitely impacted upon their defensive capacity in the last ten minutes of the game.

The first half was pretty even, with Melford settling well after a shaky start. The Villagers defended well a number of early corners and came close to scoring themselves on 33 minutes when Jack Brame was narrowly wide with a free kick.

As the half came to an end Melford keeper Max Boulter saved well from Jack Quidley ,whilst another shot from Harry Stratton went well wide of the Melford goal.

For the second period Kempston increased the tempo of their game, with Melford having to go into a defensive mode.

The outstanding player for Kempston, Ben Baker started to weave his magic down the Melford right flank, in a Kempston attack the winger got behind keeper Boulter and his shot was cleared of the line by Charlie Holmes the Melford full back.

It now looked towards the end of the game that Kempston would be at Melford next Wednesday for a replay, it was not to be.

On 84 minutes the weary Melford defence were outwitted by a thrusting Baker run and his cross was fired home by substitute RAFAL WIELBLAD, joy for Kempston but despair for Melford.

In the 90th minute the game was wrapped up for Kempston, when the ball found  RAFAL WIELBLAD in space and he fired home from the angle.

Not the result for Melford, but a brave effort all the same from the underdogs.  CHENOBERET

LONG MELFORD: Max Boulter, Charlie Holmes, Tyler Shillingford, Jake Jackson, Deklyn Roy, Josh Collins, Ben Humphreys (69), Harry Whiting-Noakes, Jack Brame (76), Jacob Brown, Frederico Dende (64)

Subs: Alfie Parnell (76), Charles Glover (69), Perry Newman (64)

not used: Rob Fayers, Jon Brown, Dave Hennessey

• It’s back to Thurlow Nunn Premier action next Saturday (13th) when Long Melford host Harleston Town at Stoneylands. Both teams won their opening two league matches.