Some excellent goalkeeping from the experienced Darren Moyes saved the visitors from what could have been a humiliating defeat, as Felixstowe pinned them in their own half for long periods of this game.
In the end, three top-quality first-half strikes brightened up a miserable, damp and cold afternoon to give the hosts a very comfortable three points, with an own goal early in the second-half adding to the visitors’ woes.
The result saw Melford drop into the bottom three while the home side kept their plans of a top-four finish very much on track.
The Seasiders were ahead after just six minutes when Long Melford, who had made a bright start to the game, were caught short of numbers at the back.
A long clearance picked out Scott Chaplin, who raced away down the right before cutting inside and smashing a 20-yard effort past Moyes.
It was a quality finish from Chaplin, who has been in excellent form since returning from injury and the midfielder was in the thick of most of the action in a first-half dominated by the home side.
Felixstowe doubled their lead in the 16th minute after Rhys Barber had been brought down by Dan Smith on the edge of the Melford area, and Chaplin picked out Dan Davis, who rose highest, to plant a firm header beyond the visitors ‘keeper.
Callum Bennett and Craig Jennings were both off target with efforts and Chaplin saw his effort blocked before Melford broke out, winning a free-kick that was only half cleared by the home defence, but with a clear sight of goal, Scott Yearling drove his shot straight at Danny Crump in the 27th minute.
It was from a Long Melford corner that the home side produced a quick break and top-class finish in the 39th minute to add the third. Jordan Matthews collected Crump’s clearance and put Tom Winter away with the visitors’ defence pushing up for the corner.
With Moyes charging out of his area to narrow the angle, Winter clipped the ball over the Melford custodian from 30 yards.
The third goal dashed any hopes the visitors had of making a comeback and eight minutes into the second half, a jinking run from Winter ended with Anthony Waugh helping his shot on his its way, wrong footing his ‘keeper to make it 4-0.
But for Moyes, who produced a string of saves, the scoreline could have been much higher and Seasiders manager Kevin O’Donnell was delighted with the way his side reacted to last week’s defeat and pressed the visitors’ defence for the full 90 minutes.
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