Seven goal chiller!

After letting a three goal advantage slip Long Melford were knocked out of the Suffolk Senior Cup.

Hadleigh United 4-3 Long Melford – Suffolk Senior Cup (17th October 2026, 2pm KO). Match Report from Jordan Maynard.

THE UNBEATEN STREAK AND CUP HOPES DESTROYED BY THE BRETTSIDERS!

The Long Melford FC First Team had a weekend of not playing football last weekend – the Villagers were looking to expand on their unbeaten streak to 7 games and to book themselves one step closer to Portman Road (the home of our local Premier League football club, Ipswich Town) – where the Final of the Suffolk Senior Cup would be played. After being 3-0 up initially, Melford’s dreams of a cup final this season at Portman Road would be crushed at the hands of local rivals, Hadleigh United. Melford had beaten Hadleigh in the previous fixture (at the Millfield) in the League 3-1 – Hadleigh got their revenge in today’s game.

With Melford manager, ‘Macca’ Martin McConnell being without Melford captain, Brandon Sailsbury and Toby John due to suspension – Melford still had a strong side out. The first half started very quickly, with Melford kicking off and immediately playing some amazing football early doors. On 4 minutes, a corner on the left side was taken by Jack Graham (who returned from suspension today) – a lovely cross taken by Jack into the far post, found the head of LOGAN BELL – the header powerfully nodded past the Hadleigh goalkeeper, Ryan Lee. A great start!! Melford would then control the majority of the first half. Evan Gledhill could not quite get a good contact on the ball after a lovely bit of one-pass football on 15 minutes. A minute later, a powerful strike was parried in the box from the outside of the box by Harry Whiting-Noakes – LUKE SPURLING would find himself poking in the rebound (similar goal to when he scored at this previous fixture). Melford would then find themselves going 3-0 up in 30 minutes, as LUKE SPURLING… again, nets against his former club; with a sublime chip over the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Melford’s lead would be slightly damaged going into half time. Firstly, a free kick taken by CURTIS HARVEY slipped past the Melford wall as the heavy rain would fall – Melford goalkeeper Ben Moye didn’t quite have a good angle to react in time. Then about 3 minutes later, Melford failed to mark CHARLIE HOWLETT, who appeared out of nowhere from an Ellis Girling direct cross into the box to nod home and catch Melford off guard. Melford would hold on and compose until half time.

The hosts would then control the majority of the rest of the game, making shot after shot and making life hard for Melford. Hadleigh then made their chance when they had a free kick on 75 minutes – CURTIS HARVEY’s free kick would hit the bar, but the ball bounced off Ben Moye in the Melford net and in. The game was tied to 3-3. Melford was then desperate to either steal a winner or to tie the game and get to penalties. Melford would then get a lot more chances in the remaining 15 minutes of normal time. The referee would then add on 6 minutes to stoppage time – this would enable Hadleigh to get a last gasp winner and upset the Melford faithful. SHANE MURPHY would neatly tuck the ball home after Ben Moye parried a stinging shot from the initial shot and MURPHY would then take the chance. That was the game. The hosting team would come back from 3-0 down, and steal a 4-3 winner. That would be the result to end Melford’s unbeaten streak, but to also end Melford’s dreams to get to Portman Road this year.

We now have to concentrate on our campaign in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North, either through playoff’s or winning the title. Let’s get behind Macca and his management team, as well as all the players – we need everyone and all the supporters. We still have a long season ahead – bring the noise!!!