Long Melford 0 – Saffron Walden 3
18th September 2015.
Stoneylands
Now that was more like it! That was the win the Bloods
needed to kick off our season, and climb up the league. It was a very eventful
evening at the Stoneylands. We had an own goal, a red card, Sticksy lasting 90
minutes and a goal keeper who never gave up.
It was my first ever Friday evening match. It was ground
hopper day, which means that people from all over the country visit different
grounds for the experience. I was introduced to a few as the Saffron Walden
Blogger. I am now known as Mr Blogger to a few of the fans.
Last season’s match at the Stoneylands was epic. We were 3-0
up at half time and ended up drawing 3-3. But tonight was different. The
conditions were perfect and the Bloods controlled the game.
As I arrived I caught up with a few of the Bloods family,
which I now class as great friends. Over the season you get to know more about
the people standing and cheering beside you.
I got the team sheet from Paul, and found out we were
missing a lot of players, due to injury and holiday. We had the following lads
missing: Reid, Fleming, Strong, Solkhon (All defenders). M Abbot (Midfield). Gregory
and Turner (Forwards).
The starting 11 were:
Floyd Croll was in goal. Defence: Grinrod, Lawrence (Beast),
Wardly (Sticksy) and P Abbott. Midfield: Snelling (Mashy), Harper, Noble and
Bell. Forwards: Calver (Wig) and Thomas. Subs: Drane, Murphy (Boss), Morrell,
Crane and Soutar.
Ben Morrell was called up to the first team for his first
competitive debut, after impressing Sticksy in the reserves.
The first half
Melford started the match playing in black and white. We soon
won the ball back and Thomas made a great run into the box. He beat his man and
crossed the ball, but it didn’t find its intended target.
2 minutes in and we had won a throw on. The crowd called for
the Beast to take it. His throw on was well defended by Melford and cleared out
of the box.
5 minutes in and Wig showed off his skills. He held the ball
up well and was brought down just outside the box. Harper took the free kick,
but again it was well defended by Melford.
Not much happened in the first 10 minutes. Both teams were
working the ball well, but with no real danger at goal.
12 minutes in and we had another free kick. The free kick
was taken short but intercepted by Melford. Melford’s Yearling broke well and
ran towards Croll’s goal. He found Clarke in space. Clarke crossed the ball
into the 6 yard box, but Croll collected the ball well.
The Melford keeper Mansfield was off his line, so Mrs Nash
encouraged Croll to shoot. He didn’t listen.
Thomas was causing trouble, and produced a lovely flick for
Bell to run onto up the right wing. Bell’s cross was well defended, but only
for a throw on in the Beast’s territory. The throw on was punched away by
Mansfield, but fell to the Viking. The Viking’s shot seemed to hit the Melford
defender’s hand, but hand ball was not given. Melford broke well and gave
Yearling a chance on goal, but his effort went wide.
Shortly after, Bell won the ball back from inside his half.
He ran up the wing and took it around the Melford player. He passed it to
Noble, who then passed it to Wig. Wig passed it back to Bell on the wing. Bell
got his cross in, but Melford’s Jackson cleared the danger. This showed some
great team work from the lads.
Yearling continued to look threatening and drove toward the
goal, but Mashy made a great sliding tackle to win the ball back. He passed the
ball to Wig, who made an excellent over the top pass to Thomas. Thomas
controlled the ball well, but there was no one home to receive his cross.
During the first half we started to mimic the Melford keeper,
by yelling out ‘No foul’. As the keeper took a goal kick, we would start the ‘woooooooaaaaaahhhhhh’
and as he kicked the ball we would yell ‘No foul’. You have to give full credit
to the Mansfield, as he didn’t flinch once.
25 minutes in and we had another free kick, just outside the
box. Grinrod took the shot, which was low and hard, forcing a great save from
Mansfield.
Melford put together some great passes, but their ball
forward was caught offside.
At this point I would say we looked the better side. Wig was
linking up well with Thomas and looked threatening with each touch.
We won another corner for Harper to take. The corner came in
and was headed out to Wig. Wig floated the ball back in and Jackson headed the
ball over the keeper, and into the back of the net for an own goal, after some
great pressure from the Beast. We were quite
sympathetic towards Jackson and Mansfield and said how unlucky they were.
5 minutes to go and Melford had a corner. The corner was
well defended by Sticksy, but fell to a Melford player. He took a shot but it
was well saved by Croll.
Melford continued to
try and get back into the match, with a great effort from their captain, Adams.
The header was strong but went wide.
Mrs Nash’s flannel had now come out after some great
pressure from Melford. I believe from what she was saying, the referee was
getting on her nerves…or something along those lines.
We finished the first half strong. We pushed for that second
goal with decent chances from Wig, Harper and Thomas, but just had to settle
with the one goal for now.
Second Half
Walden to kick off and Melford had made a sub.
Walden started the half with determination and grit. We had
an early free kick but the effort was well cleared.
Melford’s Waugh took a smack to the face with the ball. It
looked very painful but after some treatment he soon played on with the match.
Wig made a fantastic run up the wing, tormenting Adams. Adams
tripped Wig and conceded a free kick. Adams was given a yellow card for the
foul on Wig. Harper crossed the ball from the free kick, aiming for Sticky, but
Mansfield jumped up well to catch the ball.
Melford started to pile on the pressure, with a great break
from Clarke. Abbott made a great tackle to deny Clarke a shot. Sticksy was
controlling the line with the Beast very well. The communication was excellent.
Melford won a corner after a great slide tackle from the
Beast. The corner found their striker but the ball went over the bar. This was
their best chance of the half.
We shortly went 2-0 up after some fantastic skills by Wig.
Wig crossed the ball in, which fell to Bell. Bell launched the ball into the
top right hand corner, making it impossible to save. We were on our way to our
first win of the season, but were not counting our chickens just yet.
Just as life for the Bloods could not get any better, Wig
skilfully took the ball around the defender and crossed the ball low and hard
into the 6 yard box. Mashy got infront of the defender and slotted the ball
home. We were now 3-0 up. Mansfield was not happy, but was not giving up yet.
Melford put on the pressure, but Grinrod nicked the ball off
the striker. He ran with the ball and passed to Thomas in space. Thomas skinned
Waugh and took a shot, but his shot was well saved by Mansfield.
We had won a corner, but during this time Griffiths went
down on the half way line. I am not sure what happened. He either took a knock
or got cramp. The corner was punched away by Mansfield for another Walden corner.
Clarke made a good run and played the ball to Jamie Clark.
Clark found substitute Rowe in space who tried to take on the Viking. The
Viking stuck to him like glue and knocked the ball out for a Melford corner.
The corner was well cleared to a Melford player. The player had a great shot
which hit the top of the cross bar. I am sorry I don’t know who that was, but
it was a sweet strike.
Melford tried to get back into the game with a great run by
Yearline, but he was soon slowed down by the Beast, who cleared the danger.
15 minutes to go and Wig set Grinrod up for a potential
worldy, but his shot was slightly too high and wide. It was a great effort from
the Viking, who continued his great form from Tuesday’s match.
Noble was replaced by Joe ‘The Boss’
Murphy. It was another great game by Nobby.
Wig’s best effort on goal came
from a free kick by Harper. It was played short to Wig, and Wig turn the
Melford defender. He had a great effort well saved by Mansfield. Mansfield was
determined not to be beaten again.
Thomas showed some silky skills by
the corner flag, teasing the left back. He advanced towards goal and won us a
free kick. The fans started calling him Zinedine Thomas.
Wig was replaced 5 minutes on time
for debutant Ben Morrell. Wig was outstanding throughout, with 3 assists (if
you count the own goal), and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet.
Melford didn’t give up and Clarke continued to look
threatening. He linked up well with Rowe, but the Viking won the ball back and cleared
the danger.
In the last few minutes of the match, there was a red card. Row
saw red after a robust challenge on Grinrod.
Grinrod did have the last attempt but it went over the bar
and almost hit Mrs Nash on the head. Jackie told Grinrod he would be taking
home the kit tonight as punishment.
So that was it. Walden had won and kept a clean sheet. It
was a fantastic match for the Bloods. I am glad the curse of the blog has now
been broken. Now can we go on an unbeaten run, please?
The fans’ Man of the Match was a unanimous decision. Congratulations
Wiggy Calver on another fantastic game.
Next match for the first team will be Hadleigh away on the
26th September.
The reserves are today (19th Sept) at Catons Lane
against Whitton United Reserves, and again on Tuesday night against Cornard United
Reserves. I shall be doing a blog for the Cornard match. Good luck lads.
Thanks for reading.
Sorry the pictures are rubbish but my iPhone is rubbish.
#upthebloods
#3points
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