Six goal thriller!

A game where Melford needed a win to push up a spot in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, ended in a 3-3 draw.

It leaves Long Melford First Team Manager, Martin ‘Macca’ McConnell disappointed with the result, as well as the squad who travelled around trip of 136 miles to take on FC Parson Drove.

However, despite this, Melford had the majority of the chances for most of the game – could’ve been a much more of a higher scoreline if Melford took those chances.

McConnell rotated his squad slightly to give some of the lads who are on the bench often some more minutes. The first half was where Melford had majority of the chances.

In 10 minutes, it was Melford that opened the scoring – a scrappy affair in the box, BRANDON MCKAY got the final touch who headed home from close range.

Long Melford were awarded a penalty 3 minutes later where Harry Whiting-Noakes was brought down in the box from a corner. Brandon McKay took the penalty, the keeper guessed correctly and saved the penalty.

Melford captain, Jacob Brown had a few shots from distance, but they were unfortunately wide. A few minutes later, Brown’s header from the corner delivery seemed to have crossed the line – the officials did not quite see it had crossed the line.

On 31 minutes, Melford let the hosts equalise. A miscalculated pass from George Bareham on the right side of Melford’s half tried to find Oliver Ward, Melford do not communicate and the Parson Drove winger snatched the ball and made a sprawling run into the Melford box, a low cross from the winger found STEFANO CAVOZZI to make the hosts equalise.

After half time, Melford had some more chances – on 52 minutes, Melford again slip up. A looping ball over the top from the left flank on half way line found the running COREY KINGSTON, who takes a touch past Melford defenders, and powers home to the bottom right of Melford goalkeeper, Ben Moye.

On 59 minutes. Melford equalised from a yet another scrappy ball in the box, it was Melford substitute who is back from his hamstring injury accumulated 3 weeks ago, BRANDON SAILSBURY leapt like a salmon to head the ball away from the Drove keeper and tapped the ball in with his foot into the net from close range despite Drove’s best attempts to keep the ball out of the net from the Melford free kick on the left hand side.

On 65 minutes, things went from OK to bad. A corner from Drove, Ben Moye tries to claim it, but it came off Melford right back, JACK UTTING for an own goal – to the hosts jubilation.

Then on 70 minutes, a relentless press in the Parson Drove half by Melford striker, Brandon McKay who then stole the ball of the Drove defender. McKay then produces some amazing tricks and display to drive on the right flank to low cross into his companion, BRANDON SAILSBURY to tap the ball into the net. Melford, again, equalise!

For the last 20 plus added (5) minutes, the game then became very end to end with both teams popping the ball long and having their fair share of chances. A few free kicks given away by Melford meant FC Parson Drove were able to have the majority of the chances in the last minutes of the game.

To Melford’s best attempts to get a late winner, the referee blew his whistle. Yet another away trip to The Nest in Horsford (Norwich) to take on Gorleston Reserves on Saturday next weekend.

LONG MELFORD: Ben Moye (GK), Jack Utting, Toby John, Josh Gilson, George Bareham, Taylor Bunnage, Oliver Ward, Harry Whiting-Noakes, Brandon McKay, Jacob Brown (CAPTAIN), Kyran Cooper. SUBS (ALL USED) – Charlie Glover, Brandon Sailsbury, Luca Enderby, Jahjah Straw, Konnor Oughton

Match report by Jordan Maynard