SUPER SUB STEVE CHISHOLM'S LATE GOAL EARNS 1ST TEAM A POINT (April 05, 2008)
Long Melford 2 Great Yarmouth Town 2
(Ridgeons League Div 1, Sat 05 April)
The visitors kicked off facing a strong down the pitch wind, this coupled by a bumpy playing surface made it difficult to play football. In the opening minutes Melford had to defend at their best with the Bloaters creating several opportunities.
Melford keeper Croll excelled diving to save a fierce drive from Sullivan and then plucking out of the air a header from Roach. With Yarmouth in the driving seat again Crawley got behind the Melford defence but shot well over the bar from a good position.
Gradually Melford made their presence felt and almost went into the lead with Manser forcing Pride to push his shot round the post. And soon after this Skeggs was inches wide with an overhead kick with Pride static on his line.
On 37 minutes Grindrod came on for Melford to replace Luke Bennett who was stretchered off to hospital, with a badly gashed leg after overunning the pitch and sliding into contact with the concrete pitch surround.
From the second half whistle it was Melford who surged at the Yarmouth goal, a diagonal pass put in Manser on the visitors goal but keeper Pride made a point blank save from the resultant shot.
After 53 minutes Yarmouth took the lead a corner was not cleared by Melford,their defence stuttered to a halt think the ball was going out of play,but Thompson hooked the ball back into box and ROACH planted his header firmly into the net.
The home team came back with spirit and determination and Pride saved well from a Wilson header and then the Bloaters keeper made a goal line block from a Crissell piledriver that looked a certain goal. The game flowed to the other end and after great work by Crawley his pass into the box was knocked inches wide by Sewell.
On 73 minutes Melford levelled a poor clearance found BRIND some twenty yards from goal and his hard hit low shot went just inside the post into the net. Soon after this it could have been another goal for Melford but Pride again excelled with a one handed save from Chisholm.
Five minutes from time it looked like heartbreak time for Melford when keeper Croll uncharacteristically missed his punch on the edge of the box and ROACH had a simple task to head into the net.
Despite their lowly position Melford in recent weeks have not lacked in effort and spirit and the deserved leveller came at the end of the game, Manser made space down the left flank crossed into the box, Grindrod headed to the far post and CHISHOLM volleyed the ball into the net.
The first point for thirteen games and also the first under new Player Manager Chris Tracey a point richly deserved for the Villagers .
TEAM : Croll, Durell, Grimster, Statham, Crissell, Tracey, Wilson, (67) Brind, Manser, Skeggs, Luke Bennett (37) subs Grindrod (37) ,Chisholm (67), Bull
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