Ridgeons League Division One, Saturday 13 February 2010

The second attempt at the same fixture replayed due to an administration error by the Norfolk Club, saw Melford lose by a one goal increased margin from the previous match. Despite Melford looking better than their lowly position, the home team always maintained the edge by outperforming the visitors in most areas of the game.

It should have been a one goal advantage to Gorleston after five minutes a Melford defensive blunder allowed in Forbes and when through on goal he shot woefully wide of the target. The same circumstances repeated soon after but this time  keeper Wood turned the shot round the post. 

After 21 minutes a similar routine proved costly for Melford midfielder Earl passed the ball into the path of FORBES and he rounded central defender Crissell and tucked the ball into the net wide of keeper Wood.

The home team continued in control with Taylor allowed time and space to dictate the game for Gorleston.  Again Melford keeper Wood  saved efforts from Williams and Taylor, but then action turned to the other end. Working well up front Banya found space his final ball played in Grindrod his shot rebounding off a defender for a corner. 

After thirty nine minutes Melford equalised with the best goal of the game, some neat passing between Flack and King, saw the ball released to Banya on the right flank and his fine cross was headed with power into the net by SKEGGS. 

The jubilation for Melford was shortlived for the ball from the kick off swung to the other end, again Hunn was not shut down and given space  and time down the  Melford right flank, his chip into the box was headed home by WILLIAMS, not a good goal to concede on the half time whistle.

From the opening of the second half Melford seemed to have lost concentration, and within minutes Gorleston had increased their lead, this time Williams got down the Melford left flank, cut in along the byline and pulled the ball back for central defender  THOMPSON to smash the ball home. 

The Villagers tried to come back forcing three corners with Flack and Banya unable to convert the final ball, and in another attack King found himself in on goal but Pride saved well at the foot of the post.

There was further incident eight minutes from the end when Gorleston substitute Howes ,who had been on the pitch two minutes,was redcarded for a two footed lunge on Melford youngster Millar, who just managed to evade contact and what could have been a serious injury.

In another Melford attack a freekick came back out to King and his well struck shot hit the bar with keeper Pride well beaten. But the final twist to the game fell to the home team when in the final minute BELL collected the  ball just in the Melford half and ran without serious challenge to plant the ball into the net and wide of the diving Wood.

Not a great game for an under par Melford who were beaten by a confident home team who should climb the table in the next few weeks.  

MELFORD:  Wood,  McKnight, French (49), Durell (70), Crissell,  Earl (80), Grindrod,   Skeggs, Flack, Banya,  King  Subs  Dack (70), Fisher (49), Millar(80)

CHENOBERET