Longstanton 5 Melbourn 1

A DEPLETED Melbourn side certainly found their share of luck in short supply on Saturday.

They were missing no less than six first team players for this cup match against a good Longstanton team and it was the home side who started on the front foot.

As the first half progressed the central midfield pairing of Dom Holt and James Hill began to take control of the game and worked hard to stop Longstanton playing.

Longstanton’s first goal coincided with an injury to Holt with the home team scoring while Melbourn were down to ten men. Melbourn could hardly get substitute Tom Walker on the pitch before Carl Chadwick also retired injured and again as the injury was being assessed, Longstanton got their second.

Lee Edmans took to the field to replace Chadwick for the second period and Melbourn again showed they were there to compete. Longstanton’s third came after a questionable free kick was awarded against James Hill when he and his opposing number both seemed to be wrestling equally.

Lee Edmans had been lively since coming on and when Chaz Hassen played him in minutes later Edmans smashed home a fine finish from a tight angle from 18 yards to give them a brief ray of hope.

Melbourn conceded a scrappy fourth, though, after failing to clear their own goaline and an Andrew Gray own goal completed the scoreline.

It was a brave effort from Melbourn who found themselves up against it from start to finish and they will look to bounce back next week against Saffron Crocus.

Melbourn: Ferrari, Patman, Gray, Staley, Monahan, Edwards, Hill, Holt (Walker), Hassen, Richardson, Chadwick (Edmans).