Thurlow Premier Felixstowe & Walton United 3 Long Melford 0 The presentation of a team of the month award is often a banana skin for the recipients, and it was a case of double jeopardy when the Seasiders collected the award for August and September from league chairman Peter Hutchings prior to kick-off, writes Chris Ryan.
But the home side refused to let this become a bad omen as they set about extending their 100% home record to 12 games and further entrench themselves at the top of the Premier Division table.
It wasn’t a one sided affair with Long Melford, themselves on a decent run, fully stretching the home side at times and forcing a brilliant double save from Danny Crump to deny Scott Sloots from the penalty spot on the hour.
Had he scored, the final 30 minutes would certainly have been interesting.
Earlier, Scott Chaplin’s shot from Kye Ruel’s defence splitting pass resulted in a corner which was cleared only as far as Rhys Barber. His cross was met by Josh Kerridge, with the visiting keeper Darren Moyes making a fine save before the ball dropped to Joe Francis, who fired home from close range in the 13th minute.
Once in front, the home side took control of the game. Jack Jackson made a timely tackle to deny the busy Sam Ford on his home debut, and Dan Davis headed into the side netting from Stuart Boardley’s cross.
The visitors looked to strike on the break with Crump quickly out of his area to deny Hassan Alley, while Moyes produced a flying save at the other end to prevent Ruel doubling the home advantage before the break.
It was 2-0 in the 51st minute when a Francis effort was deflected past Moyes by a defender and Ruel confirmed the win on the hour with a well-struck volley.
Then Francis was adjudged to have fouled Alley as he skipped into the area, but Crump was in no mood to be defeated, saving Sloots’ initial spot kick, then the follow up, before claiming the ball amongst a mass of flying boots to keep the 270-plus crowd warmed on a bitterly cold afternoon.
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