Impressive home win!

A boosting win for The Villagers against promotion contenders FC Peterborough on a terrible November day at the newly named KBS  Groundworks Stadium.

The visitors who won earlier in the season at Peterborough by three clear goals have progressed well over their 11 years since formation  and were  pitted  against LMFC who have some 160 years of history having been formed in 1868, and said to be the 10^th oldest football Club in the UK.

It was a great game with two matched teams, and the victory is a well earned tonic for the hardworking Melford Manager “Macca” McConnell.

The visitors dominated the opening ten minutes with Melford forced into defensive mode, the outstanding  Vitor Vaz creating problems down the Melford left flank, with surging runs by wing back  Domingos  Sanha  penetrating the Melford defence, but with keeper Ben Moye in fine form and defenders  Alfie Carroll and Toby John defending robustly no goals were conceded.

Gradually Melford started to create problems at the other end with the hardworking Charlie Glover and subtle skills of  Brandon McKay  putting Melford in the driving seat,  but keeper Alfie Bird dealt with any goal bound efforts.

And so the game continued with a similar balance into the second half,  Melford wind in faces kicking towards the Meetings Field houses. In a brief period of pressure Melford had the ball cleared off the line twice with defenders Mario Neves and  Romeo Ugbene prominent in clearing the danger.

The  goal arrived on 78 minutes with a move that would have graced any football match at any level.

The move was started by 16 year old  wing back Jahjah  Straw  who found  Brandon McKay with a neat pass, and McKay threaded through a sublime pass to   OLLIE HUGHES  who ran through to place the ball wide of keeper  Bird to give Melford the vital goal.

The visitors came back with  some gusto, but keeper Moye produced some neat saves coupled with some poor finishing. Despite the referee finding 9 minutes added time Melford held firm for a deserved three points to take them nearer a desired top 6 finish.

MOM was youngster  Jahjah  Straw (currently on loan from Bury Town – pictured below receiving his award from Jordan Maynard).

Next week Diss away  and hopefully another fine player Brandon Salisbury will be available in the squad ( 7 day notice into Stowmarket). See you there!!   (Chenoberet)     

LONG MELFORD: Ben  Moye,  Jahjah Straw,  George Bareham, Alfie Carroll,   Toby John,  Sam Markwick,   Charlie Glover, Harry Whiting-Noakes,  Ollie Hughes,  Jacob Brown (capt) Brandon McKay   SUBS USED   Taylor  Bunnage Jordan Gibbs, Olly Ward,  Rio  Simpson,  not used Freddie Pheby