Opening day win at Fakenham

The Ghosts were quickly exorcised by a vibrant new look Long Melford team who played some excellent quick attacking football.

A credit on this performance to new manager Dave Hennessey and his management team, who no doubt will have cautioned the fact that one result does not make a season.

There were eight new signings in the Melford squad after a summer of wholesale changes at the club.

The opening five minutes saw Jacob Brown head over the bar for Melford and at the other end Aaron Saddleton stabbed wide from a good position for Fakenham.

After 13 minutes Melford took the lead, home keeper Tom Coombe parried a shot from Ben Humphreys, and JACOB BROWN crashed home the rebound.

After 32 minutes, Melford had a setback. A collision between keeper David Leader, and other players including Tyrese Williams, saw the game held up for some seven minutes.

Keeper Leader was first to recover, but Williams laid prostrate on the ground for several minutes, eventually he left the pitch with a facial wound and serious concussion, and after attending Kings Lynn Hospital, he was eventually released and is unlikely to be cleared to play for at least three weeks. Melford introduced Jordan Gibbs for his debut as substitute.

Melford went further ahead on 40 minutes when debut making Harry Whiting-Noakes, robbed the ball off a Fakenham defender and his pin point diagonal ball found HASSAN ALLY wide and on the left flank, the wide man cut in to fire home.

The second half saw Fakenham improve their game, two great chances were spurned early on by the home team both Finley Whitely and Jake Watts shooting over open goals.

On 56 minutes Melford keeper Leader sustained a further injury and had to leave the pitch, he was replaced in goal by central defender Deklyn Roy, who in turn was replaced by Kalum Benham, despite a slight injury problem.

On 59 minutes Fakenham got a goal back courtesy of Melford, Ricky Claxton fired in a low hard cross and in attempting to clear Benham sliced the ball into the Melford net.

On 68 minutes Melford completed their scoring another great ball from Whiting-Noakes released Ally down the left, his cross found Jack Delaune, his shot was blocked by keeper Coombe, the loose ball came to PERRY NEWMAN who converted from close range.

A deserved victory for Melford who now turn attention to Wednesday’s home match against Hadleigh United (7.45pm kick off at Stoneylands).

LONG MELFORD: David Leader, Ty Williams, Sam Newton, Jake Jackson, Deklyn Roy, Josh Collins, Hassan Ally, Harry Whiting-Noakes , Ben Humphreys, Jacob Brown, Frederico Dende

Subs (all used): Jordan Gibbs, Perry Newman, Kalum Benham, Charlie Holmes, Jack Delaune