Back to winning ways!

Against a youthful AFC Sudbury side and with an early 12.30 kick off (to help with AFC Sudbury v Bury Town at 3pm) Long Melford showed some promising potential, despite being minus 5 players from what would be the strongest Villagers lineup.  

The visitors were no pushover side and indeed early in the game they had some good chances. but failed to capitalise.

After only six minutes Melford went ahead. A fine Taylor Bunnage ball found the Melford tricky wide man Jack Graham, who put in the perfect cross for the energetic  OLLIE HUGHES to slot home at the far post.

At the other end some good Melford defending thwarted  Charlie Oxborrow when through on goal. 

On 17 minutes Melford increased their lead this time  Hughes turned provider and played in  JACK GRAHAM, for him to finish from close range. 

Melford consolidated  their  lead on 41 minutes when again  Hughes and Graham combined with some great football, and skipper JACOB BROWN applied the finishing touch.

A black mark for Melford right on the interval whistle, when some complacent and lazy defending allowed ARCHIE JOLLAND, to pull a goal back for Sudbury.

The wind continued to blow hard  together with some steady rain for the second half  but credit  to both teams for producing some entertaining  football.

On 67 minutes Melford went further ahead when a Bunnage  corner was superbly headed  home  by JACOB BROWN, giving sub goalkeeper  Sid Townsend no chance.

Edging into  added time Sub   HARRY WHITING NOAKES scored a fine individual goal to crown his return to the Melford squad and  make it a good day for The Villagers.  

LONG MELFORD: Moye, Utting, Bareham, Crisp, Crowe, Foster, Bunnage, Glover, Hughes, Brown (capt) Graham 

Subs: Jolly, Whiting-Noakes, Ollington, Greener

Photo credit: Mark Westley/Suffolk Free Press