THETFORD TOWN 2 LONG MELFORD 2 : MATCH REPORT FROM MUNDFORD ROAD (April 26, 2008)
Thetford Town 2 Long Melford 2
(Ridgeons League Div 1, Sat 26 April 2008)
With keeper Floyd Croll away on family business and five players injured, Melford had to dig deep to field a team. Despite this the recent revival for Melford continued and although The Villagers rode their luck at times they came very close to snatching all the points.
It was Melford who started the chances when Grindrod flashed in a cross that keeper Terry failed to deal with and the ball went out of play with no Melford player being able to make contact.
The home team responded with Pask shooting wide when the ball had jumped from the hands of Melford Youth keeper Mansfield and a minute later Mann had a similar chance but stabbed his effort wide also.
The injury jinx struck for Melford on 24 minutes when striker Danny Manser was stretchered off to hospital with suspected torn ligaments, his replacement Budgen making an instant impact by shooting just wide with his first touch.
Melford took the lead in glorious style just before the interval, when JACK TAYLOR drove the ball home from 36 yards giving keeper Terry no chance. This was almost repeated on the half time whistle, when a Grindrod piledriver was pushed over the bar by keeper Terry.
The home team started to control the game in the second period with Melford seemingly dropping off their game. Some excellent work by Mann saw his hard low shot held at the foot of the post by the Melford keeper and then a fierce drive from Bellingham was pushed over the bar by the young Melford keeper.
On sixty one minutes Thetford levelled with Holt running some thirty yards without challenge, his perfect pass finding MANN who casually side footed the ball into the Melford net.
The Melford goal was now under pressure with Adams heading off the line an effort from Bellingham and then another shot from Pask was deflected for a corner. Weathering the pressure Melford broke and two good chances came their way, keeper Terry making a point blank save from Taylor and Skeggs putting the rebound wide of the upright.
Soon after this it looked as Melford would go ahead some neat work by Skeggs put Taylor through on goal but home keeper Terry came out to to block the shot,a fine point blank effort.
Play went to the other end with Bellingham shooting wide when he should have scored and then an effort from Mann hit the post but jumped into the arms of keeper Mansfield.
Five minutes from the end and Melford thought they had bagged the points a neat passing movement between Skeggs and Owens played in CHISHOLM and his shot deflected off the advancing keeper into the net.
Just as everyone made for the exits, the home team levelled in controversial circumstances, a free kick was floated into the Melford goal,keeper Mansfield collected under his bar with challenge from three Thetford players,as a result of contact ended up in the net with the ball, but despite the Melford protests for which skipper Skeggs was booked the referee deemed it was a fair goal. Then came the final whistle for Melford so close but so far!
MELFORD Mansfield, Durell (67), Grindrod, Brind, Adams, Crissell, Skeggs, Jack Taylor, Manser (24) , Daw (79), Chisholm, subs Budgen(24) , Luke Simpson, (67) Owens(79)
CHENOBERET Click here to return to the News page
| 
