Long Melford triumph in the League Cup Final

A typical cup final in many ways as it was cagey and a physical battle at times, very few clear-cut chances at either end.

But it was Melford who came up with the decisive moment of quality to win the League Challenge Cup for the first time. Match report from Chenoberet at Diss Town on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May 2019…

The main highlight of this Final was the excellent Melford goal that ensured their victory.

With both teams looking jittery, the standard of play never reached great heights and there proved little between the two teams.

The Norfolk side were well in control early on with Connor Charlesworth and Shane Akers proving difficult for the Melford defence.

After a few minutes Melford midfielder Deklyn Roy was yellow carded for a high boot.

There was little fluency from either side, with for Melford Pablo Chaves firing wide from a free kick and Fakenham forcing two corners on the trot but providing little threat to the Melford goal.

Then suddenly on 31 minutes the Melford goal raised the game, Jacob Brown found room down the Melford flank and his classy early cross, saw Melford captain STEVE ADAMS charge in to place a forceful header into the Fakenham net.

A temporary uplift to an otherwise fairly scrappy game. This fired Melford on with Ashley Skeggs heading straight at Fakenham keeper Tom Coombe, and Adams planting a header onto the roof of the net.

On the half time whistle Lewis Sturmer went close for Fakenham with a 35 yard free kick.

The game did not improve in the second period, Ross Waugh for Melford getting a yellow card for a last ditch foul tackle when on another day it might have been a red.

Then on 58 minutes Lewis Sturman got his marching orders for Fakenham for a second yellow card.

Despite being down to ten men Fakenham finished the stronger, hitting the Melford bar from an offside position.

But Melford retained their lead, to add a trophy to the feat of saving their position in the Premier Division.

LONG MELFORD: Michael Bett,  Ross Waugh, Will Wingfield, Deklyn Roy (61), Ashley Skeggs, Anthony Waugh, Hassan Ally, Jacob Brown, Steve Adams (71), Nathan Rowe, Pablo Chaves (80)

Subs used: Sam Bayliss (71),  Emmanuel Machaya (61), Ben  Judge (80) not used: Josh Collins, Dan Smith