Long Melford is close to the Suffolk/Essex border in the south of the county near to Sudbury, I actually managed to cross into Essex on my way there missing the turn to the ground and coming in over the river the long way round. Still the new sat nav didn't panic like the old one would have and I got there ok. A pleasant part of the county, Long Melford is a picturesque place, long as the name suggests. The ladies team plays their home matches at Long Melford FC's Stoneylands Ground.
Long Melford Ladies are currently in 2nd place in the Suffolk Women's Division. Have been there or there abouts all season have played 9 matches so far winning 7 of those games drawing and losing the other with 22pts are 5pts behind leaders Brantham Athletic Ladies but do have a game in hand.
East Bergholt United Ladies are another team situated close to the Suffolk/Essex border to the east of Long Melford. Are currently in 3rd place in the league, started the season well winning their opening 3 matches, since then their form has been up and down have 18pts from 11 matches played having won 6 and lost 5 so far.
Was for a change a pleasant, sunny and warm afternoon for the match. Taking place on a pitch behind the ground itself, it was fair to say it wasn't in the best of condition, very worn and cut up little grass coverage and bumpy in places. I have seen worse however and it looked dry enough that keeping your footing wouldn't pose a problem. Was also a very narrow pitch not a lot of space for wingers to exploit.
Long Melford Ladies starting XI - Penny Everett, Amy Harrington, Jodie Sharp, Kerry Humphries, Rachel Linsdell, Deben Howlett (C), Bethany Hurst, Jessica Clarke, Lottie Churchman, Sherral Williamson & Megan Partridge
subs - Natasha Caine, Jo Marshall & Hannah Whiting.
East Bergholt United Ladies starting XI - Cameron Hogg, Emily Lambert, Amber Brolin, Beth Nixon, Jessica Quinsee, Georgina Longden (C), Pippa King, Sadie Hurren, Sarah George, Alice Longden & Holly Prior.
sub - Jessica Oxlade.
roll on, roll off substitutes
It's Long Melford to kick off the match lined up in black and white vertical striped shirts with black shorts and socks against East Bergholt lined up in green shirts with white trim, black shorts and socks. The home side are on the attack straight away with Jessica Clarke getting hold of the ball in the middle and spraying it out wide left for Jodie Sharp to run onto getting to the by line she tries to turn and put the ball into the middle falling back as she does the ball runs behind for a goal kick.
The narrow pitch is making for a congested middle, East Bergholt are sitting deep with 2 midfielders sitting in front of the back four are allowing Long Melford's attacking players to come onto them running into traffic however most moves are snuffed out in front of the penalty box.
Sadie Hurren to the right of the midfield is the player the visitors are looking to set free when they get hold of the ball. Getting the ball into Hurren the visitors break with pace as she brings the ball up the right looks to strike early from the corner of the box send the ball across the goal, Penny Everett, Long Melford's goal keeper, drops down quickly throws out and arm to make the save deflects the ball sidesways, the danger isn't cleared, East Bergholt's, Jessica Quinsee is racing in to support Hurren is after the rebound gets to it, Everett is up and dives across to make another save at point blank range.
Long Melford get the ball up the pitch quickly play it into striker Megan Partridge's feet she holds the ball up well 35 yards out back to goal, has Jodie Sharp making the run down the left passes the ball to her racing to the by line she wins her team a corner.
GOAL! Long Melford score an early goal from the corner, with the pitch being so narrow a well placed ball is going to travel further cause problems, inside the congested six yard box the ball is put on a plate for Lottie Churchman to head home from close range 1-0.
East Bergholt work the ball out from the back up the left with Emily Lambert providing good support and racing up the pitch as Quinsee lays the ball off into her run. Pushing towards the by line she can't get inside Amy Harrington, but manages to get a shot away low towards the near post keeper drops low to make the save parries it behind for a corner
Up the other end of the pitch Partridge can't believe she misses out of scoring Long Melford's 2nd goal as the ball comes to her free inside the box after East Bergholt make a mess of clearing the ball, can place it either side of Cameron Hogg in the East Bergholt goal, throws her hands up to her face as she sends the ball wide of the mark.
GOAL! It isn't long before Long Melford do add a 2nd goal however with numbers forward pushing East Bergholt back along their 18 yard line play has been pulled to the right, Long Melford play the ball across to Sharp on the left of the area, she looks to control the ball bring it down as she strides into the area, stabs her shot over Hogg, it smashes against the crossbar and down over the line to make it 2-0.
East Bergholt's attacks are limited, are working hard to close down Long Melford, passes are rushed a little too much not finding a green shirt often enough. Have some joy down the right Hurren has a good throw on her getting one high up the pitch level with the penalty area she launches the ball into the box where midfielder Pippa King receives it, hits the ball on the turn drags her low shot across the face of the Long Melford goal and out for a goal kick.
On the left hand side of the pitch, Sharp gets on the ball in her own half goes on a mazy run skipping past 2 East Bergholt players, can't get past the 3rd as centre back Holly Prior comes across to put in a good tackle to stop her getting in on goal.
GOAL! Long Melford score a 3rd goal, a large slice of fortune about this one, the home side have a throw deep on the left Sharp on the ball has Megan Partridge in support near the by line to the left of the area putting the ball into her feet Partridge looks to send the ball into the area lifting it over goalkeeper Hogg covering her near post, gets it over her the ball drops down over the line in the centre of goal to make it 3-0.
Pippa King is getting hold of the ball in the middle for East Bergholt is looking for players to make runs ahead of her to play the pass, Hurren provides one coming in from the right, King does well to thread it through the Long Melford centre backs, the ball though is just a little to close to Everett who collects before Hurren can meet it inside the box. Late on Hurren has a chance to put a free kick in towards goal from the right sends it in towards the near post, Everett with the save.
Half-time Long Melford Ladies 3-0 East Bergholt United Ladies
A comfortable 1st 45 for Long Melford have had the lions share of the attack, scored an early goal to put East Bergholt on the back foot. The visitors have done well working hard to win the ball back but have been to quick to get rid of it allowing Long Melford to regain possession.
East Bergholt get the 2nd half under way. Jessica Oxlade is now on the pitch for the visiting team in the centre she has the ball at her feet, good close control she brings it forwards for a run at the Long Melford back line her shot is blocked at close range as both centre backs converge shut the door in front of her.
Sharp is attacking from the right 2nd half for Long Melford high up the pitch she latches onto an East Bergholt defensive mix up, looks to take her shot from 20 yards earlier takes a nick of an East Bergholt boot to deflect it wide for a corner.
Hogg makes a great save holding onto the ball well as Partridge looks to place her header over her inside the box as Long Melford put a long ball forwards for her inside the box she sees Hogg coming out to close her down stretches her neck muscles to try and direct the ball over the keeper, leaning back Hogg throws her gloves up smartly to snatch the ball down.
The East Bergholt midfield are winning the ball more regulary 2nd half with King and captain Georgina Longden getting good support from Oxlade. King wins a tackle in the final 3rd pushes on towards the box gets her team a corner. Played in from the right, Georgina Longden flicks the ball on at the near post sending it across the six yard box, Long Melford get hold of it and break with purpose with their no 7 Rachel Linsdell getting the furthest forwards she is stopped by East Bergholts last defender.
On the opposite side of the pitch to Sharp, Sherral Williamson has been getting into some good areas looking to play others in rather than have a strike on goal she tries an effort from outside the box doesn't get enough pace on the shot to beat Hogg. Is a more even game at the start of the 2nd half.
GOAL! No sooner have I written that in my notes than Long Melford go and add a 4th goal to the score line, from a corner played in from the right, the defenders are up from the back it's another great delivery, timed with a fantastic run from Long Melford's captain, Deben Howlett who runs from the middle of the area towards the near post to jump and meet the ball perfectly turning to place a bullet of a header into the back of the net 4-0.
Williamson on the ball wide left passes it into Partridge on the edge of the East Bergholt area, she flicks the ball up looks to hit it on the volley, doesn't get any power in the shot, Hogg has an easy claim. Williamson tries to curl a shot in towards goal from 35 yards out wide left, a high looping ball it is dropping towards the far corner of the goal, Hogg back pedalling throws a glove up to put it wide for a corner. Howlett meeting the ball nearly scores from a header again this time Hogg parries the ball wide of her goal, Williamson is coming in far post looks to strike the rebound, East Bergholt block get the ball out of their box.
GOAL! Sharp scores her 2nd goal of the match, Long Melford stretch the East Bergholt defence as they break down the visitors attack, Williamson out on to the right has the vision to spot the run from Sharp wide on the left plays a good cross field ball for her to run onto, she takes on and skips past her marker wide of the box the angle is tight as she fires her shot in low across Hogg and into the net at the far post 5-0.
GOAL! A few East Bergholt heads have dropped they are pushing on trying to make something happen have lost their shape, Long Melford capitalise with midfielder Linsdell getting control of the ball and letting fly from 35 yards out, looking to send the ball over Hogg the goalkeeper is back pedalling throws a despairing glove up but can't get enough on the ball to stop it sailing past her and into the net to make it 6-0.
East Bergholt attack late on but Long Melford are determined to keep a clean sheet, the closest the visitors come is through King as she battles her way through the Long Melford defence on the right fires a shot/cross along the goal face, Hurren wide right has made the run just can't get the touch needed to give East Bergholt a consolation goal as the ball goes out of play.
The final whistle blows and Long Melford Ladies wrap up the 3pts with a convincing 6-0 win to move onto 25pts consolidating 2nd place in the table close the gap to 3pts on leaders Brantham Athletic Ladies as they were held to a 3-3 draw away to Witnesham Wasps.
Long Melford looked very good, played well scored at regular intervals used the limited space on a tight pitch well. East Bergholt worked hard did well to close the ball down will be disappointed in the score line and the manner in which they conceded some of the goals, needed to settle on the ball early on. Fast paced as any game of women's football I have seen, enjoyed my 1st taste of league action from the Suffolk Women's Division.
Thanks to both clubs for helping me out with the squad details.
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