Melbourn 0 Saffron Crocus 0

DESPITE the result halting an unwanted run of defeats, Melbourn came away from the game disappointed in what was a game that deteriorated into a rather ill-tempered affair.

Melbourn came out of the blocks at a gallop and had Kris Watters’ header inside the first minute gone in instead of rebounding off a post then the game may have been completely different.

Indeed, Melbourn were attacking at will and the opponents rarely threatened throughout the game. Watters made the ‘keeper save well at his feet and decent chances for Carl Chadwick and Ben Fox had the away ‘keeper worried.

After 10 minutes, Crocus showed their true intent as a midfielder led with an arm to leave captain Jason Gray with an unsightly lump by his eye which eventually led to his withdrawal in the second half.

Melbourn dominated the first half but were frustrated to go in at half-time with scores even. The second half was much the same as the first with Melbourn breaking at will and defending comfortably - indeed keeper Mark Ferrari didn’t have to make a meaningful save all game. As Melbourn pushed, their finishing became desperate, Watters headed over where he probably should have hit the target, Fox missed from close range after a fine cut back by Nick Edwards, on for the injured Gray.

With half an hour to go the game changed after an appalling challenge on Fox, which could have left a lesser man injured for weeks, went unpunished and signalled to the away team that they could get away with just about anything. The game became scrappy but when Morris cleverly played Watters in it was admirable that the forward stayed on his feet in the area having rounded the ‘keeper, he could so easily have gone down under a heavy and unfair challenge but instead tried to keep his feet ultimately failing to score.

The last five minutes saw Tom Staley lucky to have his legs intact as the away defender marked his intent coming high and leaping through the challenge and had Staley not been so slight of feet he would surely have been hospitalised. As it was the challenge went by with not so much as a word from the referee.

Melbourn can take heart that in spite of the result it was a good all round team performance and will look to start putting points on the board this week.

Melbourn: Ferrari, Patman, Staley, Bryan, Monahan, Morris, J Gray (Edwards), Fox (Walker), Wagstaff, Watters, Chadwick.