NEEDHAM MARKET RECORD COMFORTABLE VICTORY DESPITE CARL DAW STRIKE (July 24, 2007)
Melford were soundly beaten against Premier Division side Needham Market earlier this evening. Carl Daw (pictured above) scored the Melford goal early on in the second half when the score was 0-4, latching on to a through ball and lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.
There was no Stoneylands return for former Melford player Andy Jones as he was unavailable, but Needham still looked very strong and played in a slick, workmanlike manner that had to be appreciated.
Melford got off to the worst possible start, backing off and allowing a Needham attacker far too much room to get a shot in and clinically finish past Craig Rulton in the Melford goal.
A second Needham goal deservedly came after about 15 minutes, another good finish after a cross from the left. After that goal Melford came into the match more, with debutant Ashley Skeggs testing the Needham keeper with a decent effort.
However, after 35 minutes the Melford defence failed to clear their lines and again Needham punished them clinically to take a 3-0 lead into half-time.
Straight after half time there was a fourth for the visitors - a slightly scrappy goal eventually being headed in.Moments later the ever-dangerous Carl Daw latched on to a through ball and lobbed the keeper to give the home side a consolation goal. The match then became very even, with Melford perhaps on top until Needham added a fifth after 80 minutes.
Melford made a lot of second half substitutions, eight in total, with a cameo role for Reserves player/manager Ryan Owens up front in the last ten minutes.
This wasn't a bad performance from Melford , but despite spells where the match was even there was an obvious gap in quality between the two sides at times, and Needham looked like they could step up a gear any time they wanted to. This had to be expected as Needham are a top 5 Premier Division side, and undoubtedly far stronger than anything Melford will face in the First Division this year.
Final score : Long Melford 1 Needham Market 5
Melford : Craig Rulton, Ez Durell, Dan Grindrod, Steve Adams, Andy Gooderham, Danny Brind, Matt Wilson, Paul Walker, Liam Bevis, Ashley Skeggs, Carl Daw
Substitutes (all used) : Liam Cawtheray, Tony French, David Kenyon, Mark Arnold, Sam Mansfield, Steve Chisholm, Luke Simpson, Ryan Owens
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