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Debenham LC 2 Long Melford 1
FA Vase Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 22 September 2007
Melford handed a debut to former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Floyd Croll in this FA Vase tie at unbeaten side Debenham LC, and were also boosted by the return of influential players Darren Pratt and Danny Brind.
The early exchanges were even, with Melford resisting a brief spell of Debenham LC pressure before creating the first real chance of the match on 7 minutes. A well-judged through ball from Paul Walker found David Kenyon through on goal but keeper Ellis blocked well.
Soon after this Debenham upped the tempo and forced a number of corners before a brilliant tackle from Dan Grindrod on 20 minutes saved the day after Gedny had slipped the Melford defence.
The period of Debenham pressure continued, with right winger Turley a constant threat, and it needed some brave Melford defending to keep the home side at bay.
On 34 minutes it took another exceptional tackle from Grindrod, this time on Turley, to stop Debenham scoring but Melford were not always on the defensive – they began to force corners and shots from distance by Pratt and Brind tested home keeper Ellis.
Just as it looked like the score would remain goalless at half-time, a sharp pass from Jopling turned the Melford defence and set Gedny through on goal. Melford keeper Croll advanced but the Debenham forward found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
The second half began with Debenham looking to kill the game off, Croll had to make a great save from a Jopling effort and Errol Durell did well to rescue a dangerous situation after Melford had given the ball away cheaply in midfield.
Melford weathered this brief storm and began to force the issue, with Brind again trying his luck from distance . On 55 minutes a lovely ball down the line from Grindrod found Ashley Skeggs who did well to muscle past his marker and force a corner. Skeggs took the corner himself and found Pratt, who headed powerfully but inches over the bar.
On 71 minutes Melford looked to have made the vital breakthrough – a nice passing move involving several players resulted in a deft flick from Matt Wilson finding substitute Carl Daw through on goal – but he saw his well-struck shot saved brilliantly by Ellis.
A minute after this the equaliser came in somewhat bizarre fashion. As the Debenham defence attempted to clear following another Pratt header from a set piece, the ball ricocheted back and squirmed over the line despite a desperate attempt to make a save from Ellis. It was a fortunate goal from Melford’s point of view but some might say they were long overdue a slice of good luck. Soon after this Liam Cawtheray replaced the hard-working Steve Chisholm on the right side of midfield.
On 78 minutes a defensive mix up was rescued by a fantastic challenge from Mark Alder when it looked certain Debenham would regain their lead. Three minutes later Grindrod was harshly adjudged to have fouled Debenham substitute Sandilands, this resulted in a free-kick in a very dangerous position but the excellent Melford defence cleared to safety.
On 84 minutes Floyd Croll, whose kicking and handling had been superb all afternoon on his Melford debut, made a fantastic save from a Turley effort and it appeared extra time was on the cards.
However, a well-taken Debenham corner on 89 minutes was met with force by French, who had made a powerful surge forward, and his header found the back of the net to break Melford hearts.
Melford: Floyd Croll, Errol Durell, Dan Grindrod, Steve Chisholm, Darren Pratt, Mark Alder, Matt Wilson, Paul Walker, Ashley Skeggs, Danny Brind, David Kenyon Subs: Carl Daw (for Kenyon, 62), Steve Adams, Liam Cawtheray (for Chisholm, 75), Stefan Robson
Andy
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