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Long Melford U18s (Colchester & District Youth League side) are managed by Malcolm Atkin.
Latest Match Report : Home v Bullers Blues (Clacton), League, Won 8-2, Sunday 15 February 2009
Manager Malcolm Atkin was full of praise for all of his players who gave a fantastic performance to beat a very confident Clacton team who came to Melford expecting an easy game.
Melford started with confidence and ammediately created a chance after a minute when new signing Ryan Hender used his strength and pace to force the Bullers keeper into a making a good save after great work from Jack Lavery and Aaron Taylor.
It was Adam King who started the scoring for Melford after 10 minutes when he curled in a 30 yard free kick giving the keeper no chance. Bullers immediately levelled the scoreline with a simple finish from close range. Ryan Hender then got his debut goal after finishing neatly from a terrific Lavery through ball.Ben Hyett then fired two quick goals just before the break to give his side a deserved lead.
Melford continued their good form in the second half with man of the match Aaron Taylor and Jack Lavery controlling the middle of midfield with James Salt, Dan Gammage, Dan Atkin and Adam Ingram giving nothing away in defence. Adam King started the second half scoring when he struck home a neat penalty after 50 minutes when Ben Wicks was fouled. King then took advantage of slack marking when he nipped in between two defenders to control a Taylor pass with his right foot and smash home with his left foot.The goal of the game came on 70 minutes when Aaron Taylor controlled the ball with his chest and then fired in an unstoppable half volley from 35 yards.Quick thinking King then got his forth goal of the game and Melfords eigth when he curled in another 30 yard trademark free kick while the Clacton defenders were still organising the wall and not wanting the ref\'s whistle !
There was still time for Bullers to score a penalty at the second attempt after the impressive Rob Thorne saved the first shot with his lightning reactions but encroachment in the penalty area gave the Clacton side another go.
This has to be the best performance of the season for Malc#s team who gave absolutely everything to gain a deserved victory over higher opposition. Well done lads.
DAVE KING
Away v Tiptree Minors, League, Won 1-0, Sunday 19 October 2008
Malcolm Atkin's Under 18's produced a fantastic hard working performance to grind out a deserved victory against League Leaders Tiptree Minors.
Melford had a strong wind on their backs in the first half which helped them to have more possesion. Strikers Adam Ingram and Jack Lavery worked very well together and went close on several occasions. Melford's defence of Rob Thorne, Dan Atkin, James Salt, Thomas Bigg and Joe Newman all produced excellent solid performances and dealt with Tiptree's predictable long ball tactics.
The only goal of the game came on 30 minutes when Aaron Taylor flicked on a James Salt throw to find Adam King at the back post who had lost his marker and smashed home a sweet half volley from 10 yards. Tiptree then put alot of pressure on the Melford team but their midfield of Adam King, Aaron Taylor, Dan Gammage and Ben Wicks all worked tirelessly and only allowing Tiptree long range efforts.
Ingram and Lavery did a great job by causing many problems in the Tiptree defence and keeper Thorne had a solid second half. New Signing Cracknell came on with 5 minutes remaining and immediately received a bloody nose for his troubles! Man of the Match was Joe Newman, who gave an outstanding Captain's performance although every player played their part in a deserved hard fought victory.
DAVE KING
Home v Wivenhoe Youth , C & D League, Won 5-2, Sunday 28 September 2008
The was first the game of the season for Malcolm Atkin's team with most of the lads meeting up with each other for the first time before kick off. However, this really didn't show on the pitch, with the lads quickly settling down and producing a great display of passing football.
Melford obviously started cautiously which allowed top of the table Wivenhoe to take the lead on 10 minutes with a cross come shot which eluded keeper Thorne. Melford then quickly settled and took control of the rest of the first half with Dan Gammage and Arron Taylor having good games in the heart of midfield and skipper Joe Newman, Thomas Bigg and Dan Atkin being first to every thing in defence.
Melford scored a deserved equliser on 15 minutes when Dan Wiffin finished from closed range after good work from Adam Ingram. Then on 20 and 25 minutes Adam King hit two fantastic strikes to give his side a 3-1 lead at the break.Both goals were scored in similar fashion.
The first came when Taylor found King with one of his trademark passes who controlled the ball with his right foot and hit a sweet half volley with his left foot from just outside the penalty box. The second came with King again losing his marker on the edge of the penalty box and striking a first time volley in the top left hand corner of the net after great work from Gammage and Ingram.
Melford continued to dominate in the second half with the impressive Wiffin scoring after 55 minutes with a well struck shot. To their credit Wivenhoe never gave up and made it 4-2 on 80 minutes, but Dan Wiffin secured a deserved hat-trick on 86 minutes when the Wivenhoe keeper failed to hold his fierce shot after Ben Wicks had worked hard to gain possesion.
There was a definite 'buzz' in the changing room after the game with all the lads thoroughly enjoying the game and all playing their part in well earned victory.
DAVE KING
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