Match Report v Brantham Athletic (home)

It was not a good start to 2020 for the Villagers. Football in the pure sense was at a premium for most of the game, Melford looked disjointed and lethargic, whilst Brantham showed greater desire for the ball  and at crucial moments showed the required composure in front of goal. 

After 12 minutes Melford crafted an excellent chance to go ahead with Wingfield and Adams combining well to feed the ball to Nathan Rowe who ran through on goal but fired the wrong side of the post.

Gradually Brantham found chances with Sean Gunn blazing over the bar, and on 34 minutes the opening goal arrived, HARRISON BACON found little resistance from the Melford defence as he cut in from the Brantham left flank and beat keeper Sam Mansfield with a shot from the angle. 

If the Melford supporters expected better in the second period their hopes were dashed in only the 47th minute when a ball into the Melford box saw a Keystone Kops performance from the defence and JOSS NEALE had a simple job to find the net from two yards. 

The end of a scrappy half saw Brantham again take advantage of some poor Melford defending and this time PATRICK BROTHERS accepted the gift goal. 

Just time after this goal for the inconsistent official to dismiss Melford defender Anthony Waugh to the sin bin for dissent, a surprising move as there had been a high level of dissent throughout the game which went unpunished. CHEONOBERET

LONG MELFORD: Sam Mansfield, Dan Smith (67), Ashley Sloots (67), Ben Judge, Ross Waugh, Anthony Waugh, Nathan Rowe, Jacob Brown, Steve Adams, Jamie Griffiths,  Will Wingfield

Subs used; Archie Pether(82), Jake Jackson (67), Kyle Hurley (67) 

not used; Josh Collins   Att: 61