Wisbech St Mary 4 Melbourn 2

MELBOURN started their new year with a disappointing defeat ay Wisbech St Mary on Saturday.

Melbourn started the better of the two sides despite facing a strong wind, and with much of the early running going their way, Andrew Morris looked like he was going to be a handful all afternoon. Melbourn had a couple of half chances before the home team took the lead midway through the first half with a header from a questionable corner.

Melbourn reacted well, however, and moved up a gear and were back on level terms almost immediately. Some fine work out on the right by Carl Chadwick lead to an excellent cross for Kris Watters who nodded home with aplomb.

Melbourn sensed that the game was there for the taking and had Michael Wagstaff finished having reacted well to a Watters flick then the game may well have been different.

As Melbourn pushed, they began to leave themselves short at the back and two hefty clearances resulted in two quick goals for the home forward and when the fourth was scored - an unstoppable strike by the left winger - Melbourn looked dead and buried. All the goals came in a six minute period before half-time.

Melbourn knew they had to start the second half with a bang and within the opening minutes Andy Richardson, on for the injured Ben Fox, followed up well on an Andrew Gray free-kick and took advantage of the ‘keeper’s misfortune to pull one back.

Melbourn huffed and puffed but the home team slowed the pace of the game and Melbourn began to find it difficult to create anything. A decent Watters header was saved well by the ‘keeper and Morris perhaps could have done better in the last five minutes, striking straight at the home stopper.

Melbourn will take stock of the result as they entertain second placed Great Paxton on Saturday.

Melbourn: Ferrari, Walker, A Gray, Bryan, Monahan, Morris, J Gray, Fox (Richardson), Wagstaff, Watters, Chadwick (Hill).