U14 REDS

Melford again deserved more from this game than they got, a familiar story this season. In open play, they more than matched the visitors with some delightful football so it is therefore disappointing to lose games by the odd goal scored during moments of lack of concentration.

As early as the second minute Melford conceded a  corner and, failing to mark properly, went a goal behind. They then settled down and some good exchange play in midfield encouraged them to get back into the game. George Skipper saw his shot saved at the near post, then the ball was crossed across the goal, then squared to Billy Prall who blasted it into the net to equalise.

Melford now believed in themselves more and saw more of the ball thanks to some determined tackling in the midfield. Prall and Jordan Gates, combining well all game, created a move which saw Dan Knowles on the right attempt to lob the keeper, but he just got his fingertips to it and did enough to take the pace off to claim it for himself. Layer were always a danger going forward and another corner around the 22 minute mark saw another goal. Six minutes later and it was 3-1 when the visitors ran from their own half virtually unchallenged to slot home. The pairing of Max Hemson and Myles Barker looks good and they worked well to thwart some of the Layer attacks. Tom Millar playing at left back did well with some timely tackles as did Bradley O’Hair on the right.

Ten minutes into the second half and a free kick taken by Skipper was saved low by the keeper, but he couldn’t hold onto it and there was Barker to fire home the loose ball. Confidence was now on the up again and Melford did try to get the equaliser but found themselves under pressure as the visitors tried to confirm their victory. Just before the final whistle Layer were awarded a free kick just outside the area and although the first shot was blocked, it was Layer who reacted first and scored their fourth. Just about time for the restart and the final whistle came.

This was another fine performance by Melford and some good games from some of the boys were encouraging. Prall was obviously seen as the danger man and was therefore marked well, but this gave Gates much more time and space to make some intelligent passes, producing his best game of the season. Patrick Halliday helped out of position in defence and coped well.

LONG MELFORD UNDER 14 REDS  2  FC CLACTON  3 (Sun 21 February 2010)

This game looked set to be a close encounter with both teams near the bottom of the table. True to form, it was an even game separated only by the odd goal. Melford began well, and as early as the second minute George Skipper had a good run on goal but couldn’t quite get his shot in. A minute later and Joseph Salter headed wide. The game then settled down and both sides enjoyed even possession, Melford impressing with their commitment level. All the Melford players were keen to do their best and give their all to try to get something from the game. Max Hemson, switched to centre back, was superb, tackling and organising at the heart of the defence. Bradley O’Hair played with a lot of confidence and did a great job at right back. Although Melford fell a goal behind on fourteen minutes this didn’t deter them from their task; they carried on playing with belief, their persistence paying off when a superbly floated free kick taken by Skipper found Myles Barker who headed home to level the scores.

The pitch began to play it’s part, with standing water in the centre circle and soggy surface down one end making heavy going of any passing or running in these areas. Both teams tried to keep the ball out wide where the surface was remarkably good. The visitors went ahead again when a shot from the edge of the penalty area beat keeper Dan Aldous. This was one of those moments where Melford lost concentration for a second and didn’t challenge the striker, allowing him time and space to hit his shot accurately.

Melford still played some superb football, stringing together some good passes, with Hemson, Jordan Gates and Billy Prall at the heart of most of it. However, with about ten minutes left it was a moment of brilliance by Billy Prall which resulted in the goal of the game when he collected the ball deep into his own half, pushed out wide, ran all the way down the right wing, cut inside and blasted his shot into the roof of the net, giving the Clacton keeper no chance whatsoever. A fantastic individual goal.

This boosted Melford again, but a combination of a heavy pitch giving tired legs, no substitutes and lack of games meant they were very tired and again were unable to get close to be able to make the crucial challenge, letting Clacton shoot from distance to score the winner over Aldous’s head.

Melford should take heart from this performance, it shows they can compete when they try hard and were unlucky to lose the match when a draw would have been a fairer result. Pleasing performances came from Tom Miller, who had a hard game out on the right with several robust challenges against him, Billy Prall who again ran himself into the ground and the two forwards Joseph Salter and George Skipper who chased all afternoon.