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Player/Manager Ryan Owens reports on his side's 0-0 against Braintree Town on Saturday 02 February 2008
Braintree Town where the visitors to Stoneylands on a day when the first team game had been called off. As a result we strengthened the squad from the pre-announced side on Friday evening, bringing in Karl Delves, Mark Alder and Luke Simpson who where due to travel with the firsts for the game against Gorleston.
The game started with a bang with Chisholm forcing a good save from the visiting goalkeeper from a delightful free kick from Cook, maybe the chance should have been taken but the game was early with only a few minutes gone.
Both sides where trying to play good football, both teams working hard to try and gain the upper hand. The second good opportunity for the Melford charges fell again to Chisholm who when through on goal was unable to force the ball home. The game was two and fro with a lot of the ball being played in the middle third. Statham, Smith and Taylor working hard to compete against the experienced two of Braintree.
A good piece of closing down from Alston high in the Braintree half was rewarded when he intercepted the ball and whipped in a cross that was only just wide of the impressive debutante Barry Budgen. Budgen was a threat both in the air and on the floor and bought something different to the Melford team that we haven't had in previous weeks.
Mansfield was only tested from distance and the only other real threat in the Melford area was snuffed out by Alder who made a great tackle to stop the Braintree forward in his tracks. Both sides needed the break as both where working hard to keep the ball and stop the other team from putting good moves together.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first ended both teams looking to carve out an opportunity to open the scoring.The Braintree forwards where dropping off from the Melford backline in order to find space to receive the ball. A fine turn in the box from the Braintree number 9 saw Mansfield save smartly to deny him the plaudits.
Braintree's best chance of the afternoon fell to the same player who played a neat one -two with his partner before bearing down on Mansfield. When it looked easier to score he rifled the ball high wide and handsome when maybe a more controlled finish would have put Braintree in front. Spurred on by this miss, Melford went on the offensive themselves to see if they could find a winning goal.
Alston beat two players before falling in the box, the referee waved play on and he did the same again when substitute Knibbs went on a fine run down the left wing cut in, beat two players and was up ended in the box. It looked like a penalty from the dug out but the referree deemed the tackle to be fair and the stalemate continued.
With both sides tiring towards the end more Melford chances came but were not taken. A good cross from Chisholm was met by Budgen whose effort was finely saved by the Braintree keeper. Budgen had one last chance to cap a good display with a goal but his shot from the edge of the area was just off target to keep the scoreline level.
All in all the game probably deserved to end in a draw. Melford had the better chances but either good saves or wayward finishing meant the scores finished level.
That's 3 nil-nil draws in the past 4 games so defensively we have things right, we just need to take our chances and those draws will turn into wins which is what we deserve. Again the team worked hard and gave their all which is something that is now a given.
Let's hope we continue our development against Stanway on Tuesday evening and then look forward to our local derby against AFC next Saturday.
Squad: Mansfield, Cook, Dack, Alder, Green, Statham, Smith, Taylor, Chisholm, Alston, Budgen Subs: Knibbs, Simpson, Delves
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