DISAPPOINTING DAY FOR THE CLUB AS 1ST TEAM & RESERVES BOTH SUFFER DEFEATS (October 13, 2007)
Godmanchester Rovers beat our 1st Team 3-1 at Bearscroft Farm earlier today in the Ridgeons League Division One, leaving Jim Walker and Paul Grainger's side with just 4 points from 8 matches.
Melford went into this match with a changed line-up and formation to recent weeks - Dave Kenyon started as a lone striker ahead of a 5 man midfield, with Errol Durell on the right wing. Scott Wark came in for his debut at left-back and Steve Adams and Danny Brind returned to the side.
The first half overwhelmingly belonged to the home side, with Godmanchester looking the hungrier of the two teams and their direct style of play causing Melford problems throughout.
After 3 minutes, Paul Bass delivered a cross unchallenged from the right that beat Floyd Croll in the Melford goal but hit the post. Bass continued to cause problems down the Melford left, with his pace and direct approach proving a real handful.
It soon became apparent that, although Melford had the numerical advantage in that area of the pitch, Godmanchester solved this problem simply by bypassing the midfield with long balls over the top from defence.
It was from one of these balls that Godmanchester took a deserved lead on 8 minutes - despite more than a hint of offside Lee Boon raced clear of the Melford backline and rounded Croll before slotting home.
Melford were unable to respond and couldn't get into the match - their congested midfield was battling hard to make an impact but the game was passing them by - and Kenyon became an increasingly isolated figure up front.
On 19 minutes Simon Osbourne shot wide for the home side after a blatant foul on Paul Walker went unseen, and on 23 minutes a dangerous cross from Bass had to be headed over for a corner by Mark Alder.
Carl Daw replaced Kenyon, who had been struggling with an injury, on 31 minutes. A minute later and Walker conceded a free-kick - Osbourne delivered a ball into the box, Melford cleared but only as far as Tom Polis who rifled the ball into the back of the net along the ground.
Moments later a goal-line clearance prevented Godmanchester from scoring a third, and this was quickly turning into a nightmare afternoon for Melford. On 36 minutes the sucker punch came - a Polis corner was headed home powerfully by the unmarked Nick Hurst to leave Melford with a mountain to climb.
Things went from bad to worse on 39 minutes when Matt Wilson was the victim of a crude challenge (incredibly not even given as a foul) and had to be replaced by Kirk Hardy in the Melford midfield.
On 45 minutes Melford won their first corner of the match - Walker put in a great ball that no one was able to get on the end of as Godmanchester cleared their lines well.
The second half saw a major transformation in the pattern of the match, with Melford coming right into the game. Scott Wark was sent up front with Daw, and they immediately looked a dangerous partnership. Wark offered Melford an obvious target with his height and strength but also showed good touch and awareness, and the lively Daw was his perfect foil.
After a scrappy 10 minutes or so after the re-start, Melford stepped up a gear and began to create chance after chance. Danny Brind played a nice ball into Daw's feet after good work by Hardy, Daw turned and shot powerfully but straight at keeper Hunt.
On 62 minutes Wark headed over from a corner, and two minutes later from another corner the debutant had a firm header well saved by Hunt. Soon after this there was a scare at the other end, as the ever-dangerous Bass raced clear but his shot across Croll flew wide of the left post.
Melford made the breakthrough on 66 minutes - the hard-working Wark chased down keeper Hunt and blocked his clearance, the ball broke loose to Daw who showed good composure to steady himself and with his left foot found finished into the roof of the net.
Daw had another great chance a few minutes later when the ball broke to him with just the keeper to beat but he couldn't quite make a firm connection with his shot and Hunt made the routine save.
On 75 minutes Walker nearly got on the end of a Wark cross but it soon became clear time was running out for Melford. The match was then taken over by referee Mr Friend, who had made baffling decisions both ways all afternoon. This disrupted Melford's momentum and the final 10 minutes passed without further chances for either side.
The second half performance from Melford was a massive improvement on the first, but 3-0 down at half-time was ultimately too much to come back from.
Team: Floyd Croll, Liam Cawtheray, Scott Wark, Matt Wilson, Steve Adams, Mark Alder, Dan Statham, Paul Walker, Errol Durell, Danny Brind, Dave Kenyon Subs: Steve Chisholm (for Statham), Carl Daw (for Kenyon), Kirk Hardy (for Wilson)
Andy
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