Held to draw by Fram

A late equaliser denied Long Melford victory against promotion-chasing Framlingham Town.

A few months ago, a draw with third-placed opponents would have been heralded as a great result. The fact it now feels disappointing, shows the improvement made under new manager Macca McConnell’s regime.

Match report from Chenoberet…

Melford could and should have won this game by a good margin but a combination of wasteful finishing and good keeping by Fram..Keeper Ben Potter, put paid to that ultimate result.

The visitors started brightly  but some  good keeping from Ben Moye the home keeper,  who dealing  well with an effort from  Archie  Exmouth thus keeping  the score line to zero.

As the Melford football  flowed  Brandon Salisbury got through on goal  but keeper Potter did well to come off his line smother the shot. 

On 28 minutes the magic worked for Melford skipper Jacob Brown,  threaded the ball through to Brandon McKay who pulled the ball back from the Melford right flank for BRANDON SALISBURY to convert at the far post. A classic football finish. 

Soon after this Salisbury flashed a header just wide for Melford.

On 39 minutes another great chance but from a Melford free kick, Brandon McKay headed just wide.

Just before half time  Framlingham came back with two corners on the trot but with no end result. 

At the start of the second half Melford keeper Ben Moye made two fine saves to preserve the Melford lead.

In a flurry of Melford chances McKay brought out a great fingertip save from Potter, followed by chances not converted by Taylor Bunnage and Salisbury.

On 82 minutes Melford were reduced to ten men when Rhys Foster was dismissed from the pitch  on the dubious grounds that his foul was committed on the edge of the box and thus depriving a goalscoring opportunity, when it appeared to many that there was another Melford defender within their penalty area.

That decision was amplified shortly  after when a lunging tackle was  made by a Framlingham player on one of the Melford teenagers and deemed to be only worth a yellow card. 

It  was a bitter blow for Melford when in added time the ball was bundled in the Melford net  by MAX WILLETT to give the visitors what was a flattering but valuable point.

LONG MELFORD: Ben Moye, Jack Utting, Jahjah  Straw,  George Bareham,  Rhys Fister,  Oliver Ward, Charlie Glover,  Harry  Whiting-Noakes,  Brandon Salisbury, Jacob Brown  (capt)  Brandon McKay  

SUBS  Taylor Bunnage,  Rio Simpson, Josh Gilson,  Konner Oughton, Luca Enderby

Photo credit: Mart from TellyXMotion

• Man of the Match was Charlie Glover (pictured below receiving his award from chairman Mick Garbi)