1ST TEAM SAFELY THROUGH TO QUARTER FINAL OF SUFFOLK SENIOR CUP (November 24, 2007)
The 1st Team advanced to the Quarter Final of the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup after a 1-0 win against Felixstowe United at Stoneylands earlier today. Mark Alder (above) scored Melford's goal - a header from a Paul Walker free-kick around the 75-minute mark.
The Quarter Final draw was made at 5.30pm on BBC Radio Suffolk and Melford have been handed a home tie against Hadleigh United, to be played on Saturday 5 January 2008.
Yesterday's Second Round tie was a fairly even contest for the first 60 minutes or so but Melford were well on top after that, creating chance after chance and eventually the pressure told when Alder scored his third goal of the season.
It was an often scrappy, physical affair with Felixstowe making robust challenges all afternoon and picking up a number of bookings, but Melford stuck to their task well and deserved to go through to the next round.
The opening exchanges saw plenty of hard work and effort from both sides but little in the way of flowing football. The visitors looked competent and well-organised and it was clear Melford were going to have to work hard to win this match.
There was little in the way of chances for both sides in the opening 30 minutes but Felixstowe looked the more likely to score in the 15 minute period before the break, heading over the bar around the 35-minute mark and enjoying spells of pressure.
Melford's best chance of the half came as a result of a nice passing move down the left- Dan Grindrod and Carl Daw combined well to supply Ashley Skeggs who shot from the edge of the area but it was comfortably saved by the Felixstowe keeper.
Three minutes after the re-start and Felixstowe could have taken the lead when they created two great opportunities in quick succession. The first saw a shot from inside the area well saved by Floyd Croll after a dangerous cross from the right. Almost straight after, a Felixstowe striker was released through on goal but hesitated and was eventually forced across before shooting wide.
Melford hit back immediately and Paul Walker, who was was outstanding all afternoon, released Skeggs down the left who turned inside and supplied Daw in the area but the Melford striker couldn't get enough on his shot.
Melford had by now stepped up a gear and began to look the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock - Steve Day did well to hook the ball towards goal under pressure after an excellent Walker free-kick on 53 minutes, but Day saw his shot well saved.
On the hour mark Croll was forced to make another smart stop but at the other end Skeggs saw his effort cleared off the line after a dangerous Grindrod corner caused havoc in the Felixstowe penalty area.
On 70 minutes it looked as if Melford had taken the lead - Walker's free-kick was met by Day in the air who made good connection but saw his header tipped over the bar. Soon after this Walker shot narrowly over after some neat approach play and you sensed a Melford goal was inevitable.
The breakthrough duly came after approximately 75 minutes. Walker's delivery from free-kicks had been superb throughout the match and it was no surprise when Melford scored as a result of one of his excellent deliveries. Walker whipped in the perfect ball, flat and with plenty of pace and Alder, always a threat from set pieces, attacked the ball well and headed firmly into the bottom corner. It was an excellent goal - a great ball in and a fantastic header.
There was still time for Croll to make another fine save on 80 minutes as the visitors , with nothing to lose, pushed forward in numbers. Melford looked dangerous on the break and a mistake in the Felixstowe defence allowed substitute Tony French to get a shot away but he couldn't get any purchase on his left foot strike. Soon after this, it was Walker again who caused Felixstowe problems, firing in a low free kick from just outside the area.
The home side looked comfortable in the final minutes, there were no real scares despite Felixstowe going for broke and Melford deservedly progressed to the quarter finals after a hard fought victory.
MELFORD: Floyd Croll, Neil Hayward, Dan Grindrod, Steve Adams, Mark Alder, Matt Wilson, Danny Brind, Paul Walker, Carl Daw, Steve Day, Ashley Skeggs
SUBS: Tony French (for Day), Dave Kenyon (for Daw), Sam Mansfield, Steve Chisholm (for Brind)
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