JUSTIN CRISSELL: Scored his first Melford goal today

4 - 2

Ridgeons League Division One, Saturday 02 January 2010, 3.00pm

After the heavy defeat at Halstead, Melford bounced back to deservedly overturn high flying Saffron Walden at a cold but perfectly playable Stoneylands.

It was the home team who were hit early on when a free kick from BELL evaded the defensive wall and crept in at the foot of the post with keeper Sibley unsighted. This early blow was compounded for Melford when key central defender McSweeney hobbled off with a foot injury, his defensive clearance from the boot interrupted by the boot of one of the opposition.

Soon after this Saffron Walden had another golden chance but Green side footed past the post when well positioned and it looked easier to score. The Villagers fought hard for the equaliser and both Flack and Fisher came close with efforts that were narrowly wide.

Straight from the second half kick off Melford went on the offensive, they were unlucky when Dean Costello had his shot cleared off the line, and then Banya turned his marker and put his shot inches wide.

Then in another melee Melford looked for a penalty when a fierce effort from Fisher was kept out by the Walden defence. Finally the goal came a Declan Costello free kick, was handled in the box, and the spot kick from FLACK went into the net despite the clutching hand of keeper Yates.

Within a minute Melford took the lead Cawtheray fed the ball to DEAN COSTELLO just inside the Walden half, the Melford wide man ran through, and forced the ball home on the rebound from keeper Yates.

This seemed to instil even more confidence in Melford, and the third goal came on 65 minutes, an excellent free kick from Dean Costello floated into the box, and SAM BANYA with great skill headed the ball over keeper Yates into the roof of the net.,

Other than an odd shot from Butchart and Bell at the other end it was now all Melford. The final goal for the home team came on 78 minutes another free kick this time from Statham was back headed over keeper Yates by visiting giant defender Flack and CRISSELL ran in to apply the final touch.

With Melford seemingly starting to relax on their scoreline the visitors forced several corners with Das and Riches coming close with good efforts. Four minutes before the end the pressure paid off with GREEN netting from the right flank.

A New Year tonic for Melford but a dent in the aspirations of Saffron Walden.

MELFORD Sibley, McKnight, French(73), McSweeney,(15) Crissell, Dechlan Costello,(64) Dean Costello, Cawtheray, Flack, Banya, Fisher Subs Dack,(15) Statham,(64) Durell,(73) King

CHENOBERET