Reserves Update - 22 Jan 08

Going into the game protecting our unbeaten home record we faced a spirited, well organised Haverhill team. Both sides hadn't played in a week or so, so both teams were eager for the game to go ahead on the Stoneylands pitch that had been waterlogged the Saturday before.

We welcomed into the squad several first team players who hadn't played for a few weeks, Brind, Wilson, Croll, Kenyon and also new signing Justin Crissell who lined up at centre back alongside Mark Dack in the Melford defence.

The first 15 minutes Haverhill looked like the lay off of not playing was not having an effect. Haverhill were having a lot more of the ball even though they where threatening Croll in the Melford goal.

Melford found their legs and started to share more of the ball and put some nice moves together. Wilson tested the away keeper from a fine ball from Cook but the keeper made a superb save to turn the ball round the post. The next chance fell to Carl Cook who took aim from the edge of the box and smashed the ball against the Haverhill crossbar, to all around it looked like the ball was dipping in but unfortunately the woodwork came to Haverhill's rescue!

Chances came and went for both sides, Kenyon was unlucky when holding off two defenders but a heavy touch took the ball through to the goalkeeper. Luke Simpson was next when waltzing past 3 defenders hit a low left foot shot that the keeper again turned round the post for another Melford corner.

As is what always happens when you fail to covert good chances you're always susceptible to conceding one at the other end. A tackle made by Brind in the Melford area resulting in the referee awarding a penalty that Croll was unlucky not to save to give Haverhill the lead against the run of play.

One nil turned to two soon after when from a free kick conceded down by the Melford by line resulted in the Haverhill striker leaping high to meet the ball with a challenge that Croll did amazingly well to keep out with a point blank reaction save. Unfortunately a bit of bad first team luck came our way when the ball hit Crissell on the knee to send the ball back past the despairing Croll to send Havehill in at the break two goals to the good!!!

Two nil is always a vulnerable scoreline and depending on who gets the next goal, can turn the game either on its head or make the game easier for the side in front. Melford where very unlucky not to be three goals behind early in the second half when the Haverhill striker was through 1 v 1 against Croll but instead of finding the net he blasted wide!!

This was a reprieve for the Melford team, again they started to keep possession of the ball and carve out several fantastic opportunities which should have seen the sides draw level.

The first came from an unexpected Haverhill penalty, conceded when the referee believed that Croll had pulled down the on rushing forward. It never looked like a penalty and justice was done when the Haverhill player blasted the ball straight against the Melford post and the ball ricocheted to safety. The ball was cleared immediately up front to Kenyon who found himself 1 v 1 against the keeper but he took the ball wide and the opportunity was gone.

What happened next you could attribute to the Stoneylands bobble, the ball was laid back to the Haverhill keeper to clear he completely missed the ball and it seemed as though the ball was going to roll into the net, with Kenyon and the keeper chasing the ball the keeper somehow managed to get his toe to the ball just before the Melford player to clear for another corner.

All was not lost though as direct from the corner the ball fell to Brind who hit a crisp volley high into the Haverhill goal to give Melford a deserved way back into the game.

The players were pushing for the equaliser and it looked like it was on the cards. Another fine move was put together to give Kenyon another opportunity to open his account. He superbly rounded the keeper and looked like he was going to finish only to see his shot cleared off the line by the retreating Haverhill defender!!

As was what happened in the first half occurred again in the second, failure to take our chances resulting in Havehill scoring their third and ultimately the decisive goal.

The ball fed into the box where the Haverhill forward met it with an unchallenged header that found its way onto the Melford crossbar. The only player to react was the forward and he coolly slotted the ball past the stranded Croll who was helpless to prevent the goal going in.

Haverhill pushed forward and may have extended their lead but several last gasp tackles from the Impressive Crissell kept them at bay.

At the end of the game I feel the scoreline flattered Haverhill who we must remember are a very good side. Their two forwards are very experienced and where a handful all evening. Saying that we created so many good chances that on another evening if we had taken then the score line would have been very different.

The disappointing thing for me from this game was that we made 3 mistakes for their goals. This is something that in the past we have kept down to a minimum so to give 3 goals away in one game was unusual and something we'll look to put right on Saturday when we're away to Witham.

On reflection as I write this report I think that we are sometimes a victim of our own success this season. Both the players and myself are disappointed with the result as we have started so well this season and had some fantastic results. We must keep our feet on the floor though and look at where we where in previous seasons and how far we have come so far this!!

Its great that we are now disappointed when we lose games to sides in previous seasons that you would have expected to beat us easily. We must remember that Haverhill are a top side and we more than matched them in this game.

Reserve team football is a learning experience and I'm sure if we carry on learning and gaining valuable experience both for the rest of this season and next we will be soon beating sides like Haverhill on a regular basis.