New Year begins with three points

Jake Jackson’s first goal of the season was the decisive moment in a game that did not reach any great heights on the football scale.

It’s fair to say this wasn’t one of Long Melford’s best performances this season but the ability to grind out three points will please manager David Hennessey and his squad. It was also their first clean sheet of the campaign.

After seven minutes the Brantham star player Jose Santa De la Paz, almost put the visitors ahead, leaving three Melford defenders in his wake down the Brantham right flank, the final shot could only find the Melford side netting.

Although possession was pretty equal Melford scored their winner after 34 minutes. A cross was headed back across the Brantham goal by Will Wingfield, it found JAKE JACKSON and his close range shot was saved by ex Melford keeper Matt Walker, but after a minute’s pause the referee deemed it had fully crossed the line and awarded a goal.

Just before half time Ryan Gibbs robbed keeper Walker of the ball, but was unable to screw the ball back into the net.

The second half showed little improvement with a lack of fluency the order of the day.

On the 80th minute Melford could have secured the game when Hassan Ally passed neatly to Gibbs, but from six yards out the Melford striker cleared the cross bar with his shot.

Into the last few minutes and Brantham created two great chances with Tom Lawson getting free down the Brantham right flank, and twice his well struck shots cleared the Melford far post.

A game that could have gone either way, but Melford will be pleased with the three points to take them within touching distance of the entire points total of last season.

LONG MELFORD: Max Boulter, Charlie Holmes, Ben Judge, Lewis Brennan, Jake Jackson, Josh Collins, Frederico Dende, Harry Whiting-Noakes, Ryan Gibbs, Jacob Brown, Will Wingfield

Subs used: Hassan Ally, Sam Newton, Ben Humphreys,

Subs not used: Dan Smith, Ross Waugh

Attendance: 104