Gray’s late strike seals it for depleted Melbourn

Whittlesford Reserves 2 Melbourn 3

MELBOURN made it six wins from seven games since the turn of the year, with a depleted team overcoming Whittlesford.

The visitors applied the early pressure, with Ian Frances and Lee Edmans having some good early chances, but it was Whittlesford drew first blood, when a defensive error allowed a home forward through to slot the ball low and just wide of Mick Walker's sprawling dive.

However, the early set back did not stop Melbourn's relentless pursuit of the points, and when Jason Gray's excellent strike from a free-kick was half-saved, Frances was on hand to put the rebound away.

During the early stages of the second half, Walker's goal was rarely troubled, but having failed to clear the ball from a corner after 65 minutes, Melbourn found themselves 2-1 down following a well struck volley.

Once again, Melbourn picked themselves up, and after some sustained pressure on the home goal, Guy Reynolds popped up to draw the scores level with a superb flying header from a well-taken corner.

Whittlesford enjoyed a good 15 minute spell of play, and went close on several occasions.

But it was Gray who secured the points, with Andrew Ridden's corner cleared into the path of Simon Carse, who played an instinctive, volleyed pass back to Ridden, and he sent in a fine cross for Gray to head home with less than a minute on the clock.