Defeat in Norfolk

In a game where Melford First Team Manager, Martin ‘Macca’ McConnell expected a reaction from his squad in yesterday afternoon’s game. A poor first half lead to Melford’s downfall in this game.

On 9 minutes, some Gorleston pressure when Melford let a pass slip through the middle, Gorleston sprung on the counter attack. Ben Moye charged out of his goal and took out the Gorleston winger on the edge of the box. The referee deemed the foul not to be a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, so the Melford goalkeeper (Moye) was given a yellow card, narrowly.

The free kick is where the initial kick was deflected and blocked by the Melford wall, back into D.ALLEN who volleys it low into the bottom right hand corner to take the lead.

Some better play then followed for Melford. Jacob Brown had a powerful low shot blocked by the defenders when Toby John’s corner kick was dummied by Harry Whiting-Noakes, and lead to Brown’s shot being blocked. Then 3 minutes later, Brown then had another opportunity – a courageous and athletic volley was hit just over the Gorleston bar.

On 16 minutes, a poor pass by the Melford players in the middle meant that the hosts at The Nest were able to find an incisive through ball into MAXI IBEANE who slips it to the right to the Melford net to double Gorleston’s lead.

Then from then on, Melford tried to create a few more chances – one of the more effective chances was when Jack Utting on 33 minutes crossed the ball into Brandon Sailsbury, who headed it up into Kyran Cooper, but Kyran’s header went into the keepers arms. Then about 5 minutes later, a Melford free kick swung in by Toby John then found a Melford player who was offside – at the same time, a quite nasty sight of a head clash between the Gorleston defender and Brandon McKay; it was McKay who unfortunately came out worse with a very swollen eye. We wish Brandon M all the best in his recovery. He was replaced by Taylor Bunnage.

The second half started extremely strong for Melford. On 47 minutes, some lovely pinging of the football by Melford found Kyran Cooper, who dribbled around the Gorleston defence and cut on the inside on the outside of the box – his shot was narrowly wide of the right side of the Gorleston goal.

It would change Melford’s fortunes slightly, when on 49 minutes an intricate and sublime ball through the Gorleston defence found the pacey KYRAN COOPER who then chipped the charging keeper from just inside the box. A goal that opens his Melford account, recently signed for Melford from Thurlow Nunn Premier Division (Step 5) club, Walsham-Le-Willows.

On 51 minutes, Melford’s fortunes then take a turn for the worse when they switch off in the defence and DANIEL MCNAB slots home to the bottom left hand corner of Ben Moye’s net. Melford from then on where more precarious and more in tune with each other after a quick change of tactics by Manager, Martin ‘Macca’ McConnell.

On 80 minutes, some nice build up play by Melford on the right flank. Substitute Kieran Waller hit a cross first time on the flank to find the head of TAYLOR BUNNAGE who secured a good header into the net.

From then on, Melford kept trying and pressuring into finding an equaliser – unfortunately a very stubborn Gorleston defence held Melford at bay and made the South Suffolk side settle for a frustrating 3-2 defeat.

The squad look to regroup and build on yesterday’s result – however, this Tuesday night is not going to be easy. Halesworth, who are on a good run at the moment will be another tough affair.

Ben Moye (GK), Jahjah Straw, Toby John, Josh Gilson, Josh Gilson, Kyran Cooper, Jack Utting, Harry Whiting-Noakes, Brandon Sailsbury, Jacob Brown (Captain), Brandon McKay.

SUBS USED: Rio Simpson, Kieran Waller, Taylor Bunnage  SUB UNUSED: Luca Enderby