» Listings for December 2014

1. CHRISTMAS REVIEW

   Posted on 7:13pm Sunday 21st Dec 2014

   

   Just past the half-way stage (19 league games played, 17 to play), the club's First Team sit 2nd in the table with 43 points. Melford have been in the top three since the first week of the season and now the challenge is obviously to maintain that level until the end of April.

   It's been a real squad effort so far, which is reflected in the fact that 13 different players have contributed goals. Melford have played entertaining attacking football all season, 52 goals scored in 19 league matches speaks for itself. At times they've leaked a few too many goals at the other end, but overall the balance between attack and defence has been spot on.

   The positive way Melford have responded to setbacks is another reason why they've been able to maintain the good start. There have been some tough defeats, but after every disappointment Melford have bounced back quickly.

   The Reserves are also going well this season, currently mid-table in the league and also through to the knockout phase of the Chell Trophy after winning their group in style.

   The Under 18s after a slow start to the season are improving all the time, only losing once in their last five matches and that was a narrow 3-2 defeat at AFC Sudbury who have won all of their matches this season.

   Last but not least the Ladies are currently 2nd in the table with a very impressive 16 points from 7 games, scoring 35 goals in the process.

   Finally on behalf of everybody at the club Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our sponsors, supporters and everyone else involved in the local football community. AC

2. NOVEMBER REVIEW

   Posted on 7:08pm Tuesday 2nd Dec 2014

   The 1st Team picked up 6 points from 3 matches in November to keep the momentum going and stay in the top 3. The month started with a home match against King's Lynn Reserves, a game that was ruined as a spectacle by a strong wind but Melford showed good character to defend well and grind out a 1-0 win.

   Next up was a local derby and top of the table clash at Halstead Town, which ended in a 2-0 defeat. It was one of those matches where you had to accept the better team on the day won. A lot of Melford players who have done very well this season had off days, when that happens it's best to just put it down to a bad day at the office, instead of trying to over-analyse the performance.

   The following Saturday Dereham Town Reserves visited Stoneylands. It was a match Melford were favourites to win on paper but as always after a setback everyone wants to see a positive reaction and sometimes it's easier said than done. Melford started very well, racing into a 4-0 lead early in the second half, before appearing to take the foot off the pedal a little with the points in the bag and Dereham came more into the match, scoring a consolation goal. But overall it was an impressive performance and a good reaction to the Halstead match.

   As you may have read on the website the next 1st Team match (Home v Needham Market Res. on Saturday 13th December) will be Ashley Skeggs' 200th appearance. 200 games for one club is a good achievement at any level of the game. It's fair to say Skeggo has mostly played in struggling sides at Melford but his loyalty has been rewarded over the years, winning the Supporters' Player award and captaining the team at Portman Road in 2012. I'm sure he's enjoying this season being in the top half of the table for a change!

   The Reserves are going along nicely, sitting mid-table in the league and going well in the Chell Trophy (needing one more win to guarantee a place in the knockout stage). There is also a Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup quarter final tie at Walsham-le-Willows to look forward to this Saturday (6th December, 3pm kick off).

   The Under 18s had a quiet November because of the weather but will be happy to have picked up 4 points from their 2 matches during the month. A 2-1 win at Halstead Town (scorers Sam Bayliss and Harry Fryer) was followed by an entertaining 4-4 draw with Cornard United (scorers Sam Bayliss, George Day, Harry Liskus, Bob Addison).

   The Under 18s' next match is at home to local rivals AFC Sudbury tomorrow night (Wednesday 3rd December, 7.45pm kick off at Stoneylands).

   The Ladies are up to 2nd in the table after Sunday's 5-0 win against Copleston Ladies. To read the match report from Sunday and look at their revised fixture list CLICK HERE