Villagers draw with in-form Royals

A deflected free-kick earned Melford a point against the league’s form team Kirkley & Pakefield.

The visitors had won their previous six league matches and also knocked higher league Felixstowe out of the Suffolk Premier Cup. On a nice bright day with a fresh wind at their backs, Melford kicked off towards the Meeting Field end of the pitch.

Not at full strength The Villagers were still minus Jamie Griffiths and Ross Waugh through illness and David Lopez (knee injury).

The Villagers started in a positive mode forcing two corners and a free kick without success but after six minutes the visitors went ahead after a Melford defensive error. A probing pass from Kyle Haylock to GEORGE BARBER saw his shot from 25 yards deflect off a Melford defender, past the advancing  keeper Matt Walker to trickle in via the post into the Melford net.

The next blow for Melford after 19 minutes was to lose Will Wingfield with a hamstring problem, to be replaced by Kyle Hurley. After 24 minutes The Royals keeper Jordan Smith made a fine stop with his legs from a Jacob Brown shot.

On 26 minutes Haylock put the Melford defence in a turmoil with a free kick, which was eventually cleared.

On 35 minutes Melford drew level, a George Day free kick from the Melford right flank was diverted into his own goal by the head of Kirkley midfielder MIGUEL LOPEZ, but a deserved goal for the home team nonetheless.

It was then Melford keeper Walker who on 37 minutes made two excellent saves to keep the goal line intact and s strong penalty call from Kirkley for a Melford challenge in the box but this was rejected by the referee.

The game continued into the second half with plenty of end to end play, with chances to snatch a winner at both ends.

On 60 minutes a Haylock corner was headed goalwards by Jack Herbert but defender Dan Smith cleared off the line for Melford.

Towards the end of the game Melford had two golden chances, substitute Callum Hemson got through twice on goal but keeper Jordan Smith made two fantastic saves to prevent Melford winning the game.

LONG MELFORD: Walker, Smith, Wingfield (19), Jackson, Mills, A Waugh, Ally, Emsden, Day (76), Brown (capt), Judge

Subs: Hurley (19), Hemson (76)  not used: Norris, Chisholm

• A disappointing day for the Reserves who were beaten 4-1 at Walsham. Perry Newman scored the Melford goal.