| Long Melford Football Club |
SPONSORED BY H.T. SCAFFOLDING
Player/Manager Ryan Owens reflects on his side's 1-3 home defeat against Halstead on Tuesday 25 March
Having not played in a few weeks we faced a home game against Halstead Town Reserves. We welcomed into the squad new first team signing Dan Manser plus Dan Bull and Luke Simpson fresh from sub duties for the first team at Cornard the day before.
With three games to go and 9 points up for grabs, the lads were focused on giving a good performance to the watching crowd. They were not disappointed as straight from the kick off the team started to find their rhythm and play some good attacking football.
Melford were lucky however not to give a penalty away early doors when Knibbs handled in the area but the ref failed to see and waved play on. With that bit of luck going in our favor the Melford charges pressed back the Halstead defense and forced several good goal scoring opportunities.
The first fell to Alston who gambled on the defenders mistake to take him clear of the backline, his shot was true but as has happened a few times this season the luck wasn't on our side as his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety. Minutes later in a similar situation Alston picked his spot only to beat the keeper but see his shot cleared off the line to safety.
With three games to go and 9 points up for grabs, the lads were focused on giving a good performance to the watching crowd. They were not disappointed as straight from the kick off the team started to find their rhythm and play some good attacking football.
Melford were lucky however not to give a penalty away early doors when Knibbs handled in the area but the ref failed to see and waved play on. With that bit of luck going in our favor the Melford charges pressed back the Halstead defense and forced several good goal scoring opportunities.
The first fell to Alston who gambled on the defenders mistake to take him clear of the backline, his shot was true but as has happened a few times this season the luck wasn't on our side as his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety. Minutes later in a similar situation Alston picked his spot only to beat the keeper but see his shot cleared off the line to safety.
The Melford team where down playing with confidence, Manser was looking lively and showing what a good acquisition he will be for the club. He linked well with first Alston then Simpson before seeing his first shot of the afternoon fall safely into the keepers arms.
Chances came and went, Mark Dack hitting the bar from a corner and then failing to turn home a shot from 3 yards out. It was remarked on the Melford bench how well we were playing but that it felt like one of those days where we thought that one mistake might cost us at our end. That's exactly what happened when a quick free kick was taken by the Halstead forward. Hounsell in the Melford goal did superbly to save however, the rebound fell nicely to the attacking player to give the away side an undeserved lead.
The start of the second half was scrappy as Melford were searching for the equaliser and the Halstead team where doing their best to cut out all the attacking football that Melford where looking to play. Halstead doubled their advantage when poor marking from a corner resulted in the ball being bundled over the line from close range. Things took an even bigger turn for the worse when in similar fashion the ball was misjudged by the Melford rear guard which allowed the Halstead attacker to force the ball home to give them a 3 nil scoreline.
Budgen and Chisholm and Bennett were introduced and we regained some attacking cohesion. Chances fell to Budgen and Bull but again they weren't taken. The one chance that was converted was the best move of the game. Neat play between Manser, Simpson and Chisholm resulted in Manser scoring his first goal for the club with a neat crisp Finnish.
All in all this game was one of both satisfaction and disappointment. I thought first half we where outstanding and a fair scoreline would have been 4-1 but if you don't take your chances when you're on top then ultimately it comes back to haunt you.
Second half we didn't really get going and made 2 further mistakes that gave the scoreline an unfair reflection on the game. If we can cut out the mistakes and take some of these chances that we are creating then we will win more games than we lose. We have 2 games to go and 6 points to play for which will push us further up the table.
Seeing what we have now and where we have come since the start of the season I wish we had the season all over again, I suppose I'll have to wait for next season where I truly believe that this side can develop further and with a few additions to the squad push for honors next year.
Chances came and went, Mark Dack hitting the bar from a corner and then failing to turn home a shot from 3 yards out. It was remarked on the Melford bench how well we were playing but that it felt like one of those days where we thought that one mistake might cost us at our end. That's exactly what happened when a quick free kick was taken by the Halstead forward. Hounsell in the Melford goal did superbly to save however, the rebound fell nicely to the attacking player to give the away side an undeserved lead.
The start of the second half was scrappy as Melford were searching for the equaliser and the Halstead team where doing their best to cut out all the attacking football that Melford where looking to play. Halstead doubled their advantage when poor marking from a corner resulted in the ball being bundled over the line from close range. Things took an even bigger turn for the worse when in similar fashion the ball was misjudged by the Melford rear guard which allowed the Halstead attacker to force the ball home to give them a 3 nil scoreline.
Budgen and Chisholm and Bennett were introduced and we regained some attacking cohesion. Chances fell to Budgen and Bull but again they weren't taken. The one chance that was converted was the best move of the game. Neat play between Manser, Simpson and Chisholm resulted in Manser scoring his first goal for the club with a neat crisp Finnish.
All in all this game was one of both satisfaction and disappointment. I thought first half we where outstanding and a fair scoreline would have been 4-1 but if you don't take your chances when you're on top then ultimately it comes back to haunt you.
Second half we didn't really get going and made 2 further mistakes that gave the scoreline an unfair reflection on the game. If we can cut out the mistakes and take some of these chances that we are creating then we will win more games than we lose. We have 2 games to go and 6 points to play for which will push us further up the table.
Seeing what we have now and where we have come since the start of the season I wish we had the season all over again, I suppose I'll have to wait for next season where I truly believe that this side can develop further and with a few additions to the squad push for honors next year.
Team: Hounsell, Brightwell, Durell, Dack, Knibbs, Simpson, Bull, Taylor, Clark, Manser, Alston Subs Budgen (Clark), Chisholm (Alston), Bennett (Knibbs)
FIXTURES/RESULTS 2007/08
|
Date |
Kick off |
Venue |
Comp. |
Opponents |
Result |
Scorer(s) |
|
Sat 21 July |
4pm |
Home |
Pre-Season |
Grundisburgh Res |
|
Hadley |
|
Sat 28 July |
3pm |
Away |
Pre-Season |
Hadleigh United Res |
|
OG, Hardy |
|
Tue 31 July |
6.45pm |
Cockfield Utd |
Cockfield Cup (Semi Final) |
Stowupland |
|
Taylor 2 |
|
Sat 04 Aug |
4pm |
Cockfield Utd |
Cockfield Cup (Final) |
Cockfield Utd |
|
|
|
Wed 08 Aug |
7pm |
Home |
Pre-Season |
Sudbury Athletic |
|
|
|
Sat 11 Aug |
3pm |
Home |
Pre-Season |
Willis FC |
|
Cook 2, Owens |
|
Tue 21 Aug |
7.45pm |
Home |
Pre-Season |
Hadleigh United Res |
|
Taylor |
|
Sat 25 Aug |
3pm |
Away |
League |
FC Clacton Res |
|
|
|
Sat 08 Sep |
3pm |
Home |
Res Cup G4 |
Woodbridge Town Res |
|
Swain, Owens, French |
|
Tue 11 Sep |
7.45pm |
Home |
Res Cup G4 |
Stanway Rovers Res |
|
M Arnold |
|
Sat 22 Sep |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Wivenhoe Town Res |
|
Delves, Bull |
|
Wed 26 Sep |
7.45pm |
Away |
League |
AFC Sudbury Res |
|
Cawtheray |
|
Sat 29 Sep |
3pm |
Home |
Res Cup G4 |
Walsham-le-Willows Res |
|
|
|
Sat 06 Oct |
3pm |
Away |
Res Cup G4 |
Woodbridge Town Res |
|
Simpson, Delves |
|
Sat 13 Oct |
3pm |
Home |
Suffolk Senior Res Cup 2 |
Walsham-le-Willows Res |
L1-3 |
Cook |
|
Wed 17 Oct |
7.45pm |
Away |
Res Cup G4 |
Walsham-le-Willows Res |
L2-3 |
Skeggs, OG |
|
Sat 20 Oct |
3pm |
Away |
Res Cup G4 |
Halstead Town Res |
|
|
|
Sat 27 Oct |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Harwich & Parkeston Res |
|
Simpson |
|
Sat 03 Nov |
3pm |
Away |
Res Cup G4 |
Stanway Rovers Res |
|
Alston |
|
Sat 10 Nov |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Harwich & Parkeston Res |
|
|
|
Sat 17 Nov |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Wivenhoe Town Res |
|
Smith, Chisholm, Brind |
|
Sat 01 Dec |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Braintree Town Res |
|
|
|
Sat 08 Dec |
3pm |
Home |
League |
FC Clacton Res |
W2-1 |
Dack, Cook |
|
Sat 15 Dec |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Haverhill Rovers Res |
P-P |
|
|
Sat 05 Jan |
3pm |
Away |
League |
FC Clacton Res |
|
Simpson |
|
Sat 12 Jan |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Tiptree United Res |
|
|
|
Tue 15 Jan |
7.45pm |
Home |
Res Cup G4 |
Halstead Town Res |
P-P |
|
|
Tue 22 Jan |
7.45pm |
Home |
League |
Haverhill Rovers Res |
|
Brind |
|
Sat 26 Jan |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Witham Town Res |
|
|
|
Sat 02 Feb |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Braintree Town Res |
|
|
|
Tue 05 Feb |
7.45pm |
Home |
League |
Stanway Rovers Res |
P-P |
|
|
Sat 09 Feb |
3pm |
Home |
League |
AFC Sudbury Res |
|
Bennett |
|
Sat 16 Feb |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Halstead Town Res |
|
|
|
Sat 23 Feb |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Tiptree United Res |
|
Kenyon 2, Walker, Budgen |
|
Sat 01 Mar |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Witham Town Res |
L0-1 |
|
|
Sat 15 Mar |
3pm |
Away |
League |
Stanway Rovers Res |
L1-4 |
Kenyon |
|
Sat 22 Mar |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Stanway Rovers Res |
P-P |
|
|
Tue 25 Mar |
7.45pm |
Home |
League |
Halstead Town Res |
L1-3 |
Manser |
|
Sat 12 Apr |
3pm |
Home |
League |
Stanway Rovers Res |
L2-6 |
French, Owens |
|
Fri 25 Apr |
7.45pm |
Away |
League |
Haverhill Rovers Res |
D2-2 |
Clark, Hardy |