Two points dropped at Kirkley

Late goals proved costly in the bottom of the table six-pointer at Kirkley & Pakefield on Saturday.

The home team had Under 18s keeper Korrey Beevor in goal replacing injured first choice keepers, and he mad a crucial penalty save which surely impacted on the final result.

The majority of the time Melford looked comfortable and played to a good standard, without doubt they should have taken all three points, but errors and poor finishing were the ingredients that saw them only take one point in a crucial game.

After three minutes Melford went ahead Ben Judge progressed down the left flank, his cross found RYAN GIBBS who twisted and turned and then hammered the ball into the net.

On 16 minutes Melford gifted a goal to Kirkley, keeper Matt Walker came out of his area and made a crucial clearance, but unfortunately the ball went straight to JAY BARBOR who from thirty five yards found the unguarded Melford net.

Directly at the other end, Ben Judge and Ryan Gibbs had efforts cleared off the Kirkley goal line.

Although Melford had more of the play the visitors presented odd problems in the form of  player coach Ross Gillfedder, who made his physical presence evident to the Melford defence.

On 44 minutes Ryan Gibbs was fouled in the area, and his tame penalty effort was saved at full length by keeper Beevor.

From a corner on 45 minutes the Melford lead was restored when JOSH COLLINS found the net.

In the second half Melford kicked up the slope, but still impressed.

With skipper Jacob Brown sin binned by the referee, by mistake, it was the opposition who made the offensive remark and Brown said nothing, with even the opposition confirming the officials’ mistake. Not often is it fair to criticise the referee, but some bizarre decisions by the said person upset both managers.

With their captain in the sin bin Melford scored their third goal Gibbs picked up a poor Kirkley cross field pass, ran wide and released BEN JUDGE who calmly slotted past the home keeper.

Another good chance for Melford on 61 minutes, but Harry Brown could only find the side netting with his shot.

So ten minutes to go and  with  a good lead Melford looked assured for three points but it was not to be.

On 85 minutes from a corner and which seemed a weak header from BEN GEORGE, was somehow flipped into his own net by the Melford keeper  Walker, when it looked as though a simple catch was in place.

On 90 minutes from a 50/50 coming together involving  Jubril Akinade and a Kirkley player,  saw the referee assistant flagging for a foul against Kirkley, very debatable to say the least.

The hard driven free kick from the right hand Kirkley flank, took a deflection and the ball struck Jacob Brown on the arm from a distance of one metre,  and  to  the glee of some thirty youngsters behind the Melford goal, and the anguish of Long Melford, the referee awarded a penalty.  The penalty was converted on 91 minutes by   CAMERON RUSSELL to give the Royals what looked for  most of the  game an unlikely point.  CHENOBERET

LONG MELFORD: Walker,  B Judge, Jackson Akinade, Collins R.Gibbs, Whiting-Noakes,  J Brown ( capt), Wingfield, H Brown, O. Judge

Subs used: Ally,  Brennan,  Davis,   not used   Dende, J Gibbs