Jockeys hold the whip hand

As the scoreline suggests Newmarket were much the better team in this mid-table clash.

Newmarket started the day nine points behind Long Melford in the table and had lost the reverse fixture at Stoneylands in October.

However the impressive Jockeys were far superior on the day, while Melford after their heroics with 10 men last week were out of sorts from start to finish – with mistakes leading to all five goals.

The errors started after five minutes, Melford yielding possession in their own half and LEWIS WHITEHEAD, in acres of space, without a defender in sight fired home.

On 31 minutes cue for another error, a Melford defensive clearance rebounded off a Melford player straight into the path of MATTHEW HAYDON (briefly a Melford player) who ran through and fired home.

Glimmer of hope emerged when Melford got a goal back on 35 minutes RYAN GIBBS stabbing the ball home at the back post after a Ben Judge long throw caused problems.

Just time for another treat for Newmarket when on 41 minutes, another Melford error allowed ALLY CONWAY to run through and net.

Moving to the second half when Newmarket took an even stronger grip of the game the fourth goal came when the ball was passed by Melford direct to LEWIS WHITEHEAD to run through and get his second of the game.

On 88 minutes LEWIS WHITEHEAD took advantage of some poor Melford play and scored the final goal for Newmarket and completed his hat trick.

In truth the score line could have been greater but for some good saves from keeper Max Boulter, shots hitting the Melford woodwork, and the odd goal line clearance.

Melford have bounced back well from similar results at Lakenheath and Sheringham earlier in the season. Hopefully they can do the same next Saturday (11th March) at home to Norwich United.

LONG MELFORD: Boulter, Holmes, Newton, Jackson, Roy, Brennan, Whiting-Noakes, R Gibbs, Ally, Brown, Judge

Subs used: J Gibbs, Newman, Verdades, Fairweather, Boxall

• At Stoneylands the Reserves 2-2 with Framlingham Town Res. The Melford goals were scored by Tyler Shillingford and Craig Lee.