Haverhill Rovers vs Long Melford

Report

Josh Collins scored his first Step 5 goal for the club but Haverhill hit back with a last-gasp equaliser.

The two teams are separated by 29 points but with Haverhill signing some very experienced players in recent weeks this was always going to be a tough match.

It was the home side who had the best chance of the first half, Ryan Weavers shooting wide when well placed.

At the other end Haverhill keeper Jaime Tedaldi made good saves from Ryan Gibbs and Jacob Brown.

Into the second half and JOSH COLLINS who has been outstanding this season fired Melford into the lead in the 51st minute after Lewis Brennan’s shot was blocked.

Haverhill came close to scoring an equaliser when Samson Bello beat the advancing keeper Max Boulter to the ball but the Melford defence cleared the danger.

Melford didn’t create much after the goal but with the defence looking solid, it appeared they would grind out an ugly win.

Haverhill had other ideas and after losing in stoppage time to leaders Thetford last week, this time the roles were reversed as they struck late on.

In the fifth minute of added time, keeper Tedaldi launched a deep free-kick into the Melford box, Luke Wilson headed back across the area and after a goalmouth scramble NATHAN SCARBOROUGH finished from close range.

In a hard fought contest with clear-cut chances few and far between, a draw was a fair result.

Today’s draw means Melford drop one place in the table to 9th. Up next it’s the rearranged League Cup tie at home to Woodbridge Town on Wednesday (7.45pm kick off).

LONG MELFORD: Max Boulter, Charlie Holmes, Ben Judge, Lewis Brennan, Jake Jackson, Josh Collins, Frederico Dende, Harry Whiting-Noakes, Ryan Gibbs, Jacob Brown (c), Will Wingfield

Subs used: Perry Newman, Hassan Ally, Ben Humphreys, Ross Waugh

Sub not used: Jordan Gibbs