A bad day for 10-man Melford

Very little good fortune for Melford today at in-form Lakenheath, and a flattering score line for the home team.

With influential centre back Deklyn Roy having to call off just before midday and Alfie Parnell a morning casualty through illness, Manager brought in Ross Waugh as a late replacement for Roy, and Ross Waugh had the man of match attached to him after a fine  performance.

No one could dispute that for the opening thirty minutes Melford were in comfortable control, which was marred after 14 minutes when a crude knee high and dangerous challenge by Lakenheath (and recently with Middlesborough) central defender Josh Wells left important Melford front man Ben Humphreys writhing in agony. Only for the defender to receive a yellow card when most people on the  evidence seen, would have concluded a red card was inevitable. Such was the situation that Humphreys had to hobble off with his injury a little while later to take an early shower.

Chances fell to Melford with Perry Newman firing narrowly wide from the angle, and a cross from Hassan Ally creating problems with Lakenheath twice clearing off the goal line. Such was was the impotence of Lakenheath that Manager Cowling was forced into an early substitution, which paid off just before half time.

It was a blow for Melford on 39 minutes against the run of play when a kick straight from home keeper  Charlie Beckwith cleared the Melford back line and in nipped substitute THOMAS THURLBOURN, to control and fire past David Leader in the Melford goal.

On 53 minutes matters subsided further for Melford when Lakenheath were awarded a penalty for a foul by Jordan Gibbs, which was not easily accepted by Melford, the referee eventually brandishing a second yellow card at Villagers defender Josh Collins for unsporting behaviour thus reducing Melford to ten players. The kick was converted by leading scorer SHAUN AVIS for the home team.

Despite the setbacks Melford continued to battle and twice speedy wide man Hassan Ally was brought down in the area, with Melford looking for penalties but the referee deeming that they were fair tackles.

The home team went further ahead on  63 minutes when Melford failed to clear their defensive lines and SHAUN AVIS found the net from three yards.

There followed further controversy when Melford midfielder Harry Whiting-Noakes, was the victim of another high tackle, but despite the player showing the referee the pattern of stud mark scratches on his chest, the referee awarded  the challenge as a foul, but deemed not dangerous enough for a card!

Just time for  LUKE YOUNG after 69 minutes to add the final goal, shooting from the angle.

The final whistle brought a sigh of relief from Melford, and over the next few days they will forget a bad day and start the next game refreshed and ready to get back to winning ways in the FA Vase at Stoneylands.

LONG MELFORD: Leader, Gibbs (64), Newton (71), Waugh, Collins, Jackson, Ally, Whiting-Noakes, Humphreys (injured 29), Brown, Newman (64)  Subs: Brame (29), Wingfield (64), Holmes (64), T Williams (71)