JUST-IN TIME: Captain's late goal earned Melford a point

melford

2 - 2

Ridgeons League Division One, Monday 08 March 2010, 8.00pm

Taken on the basis of possession, chances,corners and goal line clearances between these two basement teams,then the Norfolk visitors were clear winners on the night with a team drastically changed from the start of the season. They certainly looked a much stronger outfit.

It was a poor opening period to the game with very little in the way of flowing football. It was Melford who took the lead,the hard working sole striker Flack tricked his way down the left flank his pulled back cross ping ponged around the box, finally Earl shot from close range and the ball struck a Fakenham defender to end up in the net.

If Melford thought that was the start of a rout they were quickly reminded it was not. The reinvigorated Norfolk team belied their bottom position and proceeded to give Melford a testing game. The Melford keeper Wood was forced to save in quick succession from Foulsham and Barford, with Fakenham forcing several corners, just before half time Wood again fisted away an effort from the ever dangerous and experienced Delecata.

And so the pattern continued in the second half with other than the odd forage into the Fakenham half by Flack and Skeggs, it was Melford in a defensive mode. Eventually as could be predicted by the pressure, the leveller would come,it duly arrived, a Betts corner and there was DELECATA at the near post unmarked to head home and give Fakenham a deserved equaliser.

This success buoyed up the visitors, and they flung people forward to look for the winner. This had seemingly arrived when on 84 minutes fortune came their way. Hit at point blank range on the hand, Melford midfielder Statham, positioned clearly outside the box, was adjudged to have committed the offence inside the box. Despite the Melford protests both on and off the field the decision stood, and up stepped DELECATA to fire home from the spot.

That was not the end to the scoring as deep into added time Melford came back a free kick from Dean Costello found Melford skipper CRISSELL in the box and his header rattled into the net giving keeper Rix no chance.

For Melford not a good return from their excellent display at Whitton, whilst for Fakenham undoubtedly a return from the dead for The Ghosts!

MELFORD: Wood, McKnight, French, Earl(77), Crissell, Skeggs, Durell, Statham, Flack, Dean Costello, King(15) Subs Fisher, (77) Reardon (15), Barnes, Sibley

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