MATCH REPORT FROM HADLEIGH DEFEAT + CRAIG GREEN INJURY UPDATE (February 10, 2008)
Hadleigh United 3 Long Melford 1
(Ridgeons League Division One, Saturday 9 February 2008, Att: 105)
The early stages of the game saw the visitors in the driving seat with Skeggs putting his volley wide and from a corner Wilson heading just over the bar.
After seven minutes Melford might have taken the lead 17yr old Daw outpaced the Hadleigh defence but screwed his shot wide of the post from close range.
Gradually Hadleigh wrestled back some control and on fourteen minutes took the lead, Dennett who seemed to have space for most of the game, forged down the flank and his pulled back pass found KINGSTON who shot low and just inside the post. The Villagers responded with a Walker corner which was headed just over the bar by Crissell.
Against the run of play Hadleigh added to their score on twenty eight minutes, Myhill found space down the right flank,cut in along the byline with Melford appealing for the ball being out of touch,the perfect cross found the head of CHRIS SMITH who headed powerfully into the net.
Play then went to the other end with Alder putting his shot just wide and a backheader from Dack being clutched from under the bar by keeper Whitwell.
Nine minutes from the break the home team consolidated their lead, when poor defending from a right flank throw in, allowed DENNETT to collect the ball and hammer in an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.
Soon after this Melford defender Dack limped off with a leg injury to be replaced by the lofty figure of newly signed striker Barry Budgen.
The second half swung from end to end with each team gaining corners but with no goal conversions, with Porter putting wide from close range for Hadleigh and Budgen producing a save from Whitwell in another Melford attack.
After 51 minutes Melford deservedly pulled back a goal a Walker corner caused problems in the Hadleigh box, the ball came to Melford youngster DELVES (pictured above) who shot and hit the post and from the rebound stooped low to head into the net.
This seemed to spur Melford on with the height of Budgen causing the Hadleigh defence problems.
Then another disaster befell Melford when teenage defender Green crumpled under a robust Hadleigh challenge,and was carried off into the dressing room with a leg injury.
The game ended with Melford keeper Croll making three good saves from long range shots from Hadleigh but there was no further addition to the score.
For new Player Manager Chris Tracey, who was unfit to play, a promising start with probably on paper one of the weakest defence lineups due to injuries of the season , with this sort of performance from a full strength team the results will start to come.
CHENOBERET
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1 |
Floyd CROLL |
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2 |
Justin CRISSELL |
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3 |
Craig GREEN |
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4 |
Paul WALKER |
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5 |
Mark ALDER |
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6 |
Mark DACK |
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7 |
Karl DELVES |
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8 |
Matt WILSON |
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9 |
Danny BRIND |
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10 |
Ashley SKEGGS |
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11 |
Carl DAW |
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12 |
Barry BUDGEN |
(for Dack, 41) |
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14 |
Dan BULL |
(Not used) |
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15 |
Kirk HARDY |
(for Brind, 83) |
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16 |
Luke SIMPSON |
(for Green, 70) |
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 E. Goodman |
 R.C. Salmon |
 P.G. South |
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Craig Green was discharged from hospital yesterday evening after suffering a ligament injury on his full 1st Team debut against Hadleigh United. Thankfully nothing was broken, Craig is currently on crutches but hopefully will be fit again in a fortnight or so. The club would like to wish Craig a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in action soon.
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