Long Melford 0 Walsham 4
Long Melford 0 Walsham-le-Willows 4
The bells of alarm, are ringing this Christmas in Melford, now ten games without a victory for The Villagers, writes Richard Kemp.
It was an oft repeated start pattern of play for Melford a creative opening period and over eight minutes some good chances not converted, only for Walsham to score with their first real shot on goal.
Opening chances were spurned by Melford, Steve Adams firing into the side netting, and then Hassan Ally running down the left flank twice crossing and no-one in the Melford attack in position to convert.
After the initial Melford burst, the opening goal came for Walsham on nine minutes.
A cross from the left flank found George Bugg in acres of space down the right flank, and he cut in to score with a clinical finish.
At the other end Sam Bayliss put in Ally who from three yards missed his kick.
It was Jack Brame on 16 minutes who put Walsham further ahead, with the Melford defence not challenging he collected the ball and fired home from ten yards.
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Three strikes on goal for Walsham and two goals to the good.
After Ross Waugh cleared off the goal-line for Melford, at the other end Adams failed to connect from an Ally cross.
The second half opened with young Archie Pether testing out Walsham keeper Steve Fenner, and for Walsham, Brame was unlucky when his shot hit the Melford bar via the fingertips of Glen Morrison in the Melford goal.
It summed up the day for Melford on 60 minutes when a Walsham cross was sliced into the net by a Melford defender.
The best goal of the game came on 70 minutes when a free-kick from the edge of the Melford area was, skilfully fired home by Sam Peters. Christmas joy then for Walsham, while Melford will hope Santa, will produce an answer to their woes.
Melford travel to Haverhill Rovers on Boxing Day, before a crucial home clash with Hadleigh next weekend, with both sides in desperate need of the points to pull themselves away from the drop zone.
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