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Player/Manager Ryan Owens reports on his side's fantastic 4-2 win at Tiptree United on Saturday 23 February 2008
With much anticipation we made the trip to Tiptree with arguably the strongest Melford reserve squad we've had all season. With strikers Budgen and Kenyon and midfielder Walker in our ranks the squad was bolstered by the returning Cook and French plus the rock in which the reserve defence is built on Mark Dack!
The game started with both teams trying to work out the different formation being employed by the opposing team. Tiptree were playing a 3-5-2 system which was something that we've not encountered before this season. As a result the first few minutes saw Tiptree have the lions share of the possession but even so they weren't really doing a lot with it. Once the Melford charges had worked out the opposing system there was only one team who was going to win the game.
The first goal was due to the hard work of the whole team, good pressing found Budgen in attack who forced the defender to panic. He robbed him of the ball, took it through on goal where the goalkeeper managed to clear to a grateful KENYON who with some aplomb lobbed the ball back over the keeper from 20 yards into the un-guarded Tiptree net.
This was no more than Melford deserved as the front three of Budgen,Kenyon and Chisholm where a constant threat all afternoon. The side were working hard to close down the opposition high in their own half and this paid dividends as Tiptree kept giving the ball away.
The midfield trio of Walker, Clark and Taylor were biting at the heels of the Tiptree players everytime they had the ball which meant that for a change the Melford defense were able to take a breather which has been very different in many of the previous matches. Half time came and the lads were buzzing. Everybody was confident and enjoying playing good attacking football on a lovely surface that Tiptree provided.
The second half started as the first half finished. Melford pushing forward in search of the second goal which would seal the points. It duly came when a delightful ball from Walker was nodded by Budgen into the path of KENYON who nipped between the goalkeeper and defended to score his second goal of the afternoon.
Melford were brought down to earth when a free kick conceded on the edge of the penalty area was bent round the wall and touched home by the Tiptree striker. The goal was disappointing as Mansfield in the Melford goal was screaming at his wall to move into the direction of the kick before it was taken but they failed to line up correctly. However this mistake didn't dampen the Melford enthusiasm as with the way they were playing the third goal looked like it would be not to far away.
This duly arrived when good work from BUDGEN in the box allowed him to fire home his first Melford goal with an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle. His work and performance deserved the reward of a goal and I'm sure there will be many more to come.
The game was being played at a high tempo and those watching certainly got their money's worth when WALKER fired home an unstoppable half volley into the roof of the Tiptree net to give Melford a thoroughly deserved 4-1 lead.
More chances were created with Hardy coming close on two occasions, Taylor firing just wide and another taking a block when it looked like it was heading goalwards. At the other end the back four of Barr, Dack, Cook and French were repelling any sporadic attacks that the Tiptree side managed.
With the game drawing to a conclusion, Tiptree scored their second goal of the afternoon when unusual slack marking allowed the opposing midfield player to unleash a shot that was touched home by the same Tiptree striker who scored the first.
All in all after last week's game this was the perfect way to answer some of the criticism that the squad received for their performance against Halstead. All 15 players worked their socks off and as a result got exactly what they deserved. The game was fantastic to watch and even better to be involved with.
I think since coming to the club this season this has been the squad's best performance and my most satisfying so far. We finally got what we deserved from our hard work which hasn't always been the case this season. Let's hope that this level of performance becomes the norm as if we do then the future for this set of players is enormous and will propel us to better things moving forward.
Team : Mansfield, Cook, Barr, Dack, French, Taylor, Clarke, Walker, Chisholm, Kenyon, Budgen, Subs: Alston( for Kenyon), Hardy(for Taylor), Knibbs(for French)
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