SKEGGS BRACE HELPS MELFORD TO RECORD CONVINCING DERBY WIN (December 27, 2007)
Long Melford 4 Cornard United 0
(Ridgeons League Division One, Thursday 27 December)
Both teams were weakened through holiday absence, but Melford had crowd favourite Darren Pratt back from injury and Cornard introduced new signing Jordan Hutchinson to the fray. Swelled by some sixty ground hoppers the crowd was the best of the season at Stoneylands.
After only seven minutes Melford went ahead a freekick was swung into the box by Walker and SKEGGS (pictured above) glanced a header past keeper Holland. The home team then endured a period of great pressure from Cornard, with keeper Croll making a fine save from Joseph,and then a header from D.Guyon sailed past the post.
This was soon followed by another move in which Hutchinson should have scored but delayed his shot and Alder blocked the effort at the decisive moment. Resisting the pressure Melford had a good chance at the other end the pace of Daw took him past the Cornard defence his perfect cross found Walker but the Melford midfielder lost his kick at the crucial moment,this was followed by Daw again working through the defence but his shot went narrowly wide.
The second half again saw Cornard having much of the ball, with one bizarre moment when the ball seemed stuck on the Melford line with Cornard players falling over each other to score, Croll was able to retrieve the ball with ease with his goal still intact.
At the other end Melford almost increased their lead when Skeggs tricked his way into the box but fired wide of the goal. The visitors fought hard to get back into the game but keeper Croll made magnificent saves from Malecki and Russell to keep the slender advantage to Melford.
Then on 68 minutes against the balance of play Melford increased their lead some clever play between Brind and Daw,saw the final ball come to SKEGGS his high goalward ball completely deceived keeper Holland and found the net.
This seemed to spur Melford on and within three minutes their lead was increased, again DAW waltzed past defenders and neatlky placed the ball wide of keeper Holland to get just rewards for his efforts during the game.
It was not long before Melford again added to their tally this time Skeggs found space down the right flank and his accurate cross was met by BRIND who with the flair of an acrobat volleyed the ball into the net.
Chances came and went at both ends, Melford ending worthy winners with perhaps a flattering scoreline.
MELFORD: Croll, Cawtheray, French, Brind, Alder, Pratt, Hayward, Walker, Daw, Skeggs, Chisholm subs: Aaron ( for French, 62) Kenyon (for Daw, 72) Owens (for Hayward, 84)
Attendance: 179
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