Melbourn 1 Hardwick Reserves 0 BIS Division 1AMELBOURN moved top of Division 1A following this gritty and whole-hearted performance. Yet it could have been different for the hosts had Mark Ferrari not saved superbly inside the first minute after a defens

Melbourn 1 Hardwick Reserves 0

BIS Division 1A

MELBOURN moved top of Division 1A following this gritty and whole-hearted performance.

Yet it could have been different for the hosts had Mark Ferrari not saved superbly inside the first minute after a defensive lapse.

Melbourn's main attacking threat came down their right flank with Carl Chadwick finding plenty of space to exploit and Andrew Morris - a revelation since moving to right back - overlapping excellently.

Despite their first half endeavour, Melbourn were unable to create many clear chances and the two they did carve out fell to Kris Watters who shot over from 10 yards and Chaz hassen who saw a 20-yard strike hit the outside of the post.

Instead the highlight of the half was the rampant Ben Fox who never gave Hardwick time to settle in midfield.

The second half continued with the visitors happy to retreat further and further and prevent Melbourn scoring rather than attempt to create chances themselves.

Despite parking the bus in front of their goal, Hardwick did eventually concede.

Captain Jason Gray won a loose ball in midfield and as he advanced his Hardwick counterpart gave chase to put in a strong challenge. Gray however, held off the challenge to thread a ball into the inside left channel and Hassen used his first touch to take him through the Hardwick defence where he stroked the ball home to the rapture of the home support.

This rallied Hardwick and Melbourn immediately found themselves pegged back and forced to defend though a few near misses and a late but great save from Ferrari extended Melbourn's winning streak to six games.

Melbourn: Ferrari, Morris, Patman, A Gray, Collen, Chadwick, J Gray, Fox, Hassen, Edmans (Wright), Watters. Unused subs: Hill, Reynolds.