EASTWOOD CFC 3-2 MELTON TOWN

Eastwood CFC.....3 (Wilson 3', 32', Dill 53')
Melton Town .......2 (Eze 8', Jones OG 28')

Eastwood win in style

The team saw two changes from last Saturday’s draw at Boston. Sam Meakin returned to start and Kamani Wilson also makes the starting line up in attack. Harrison Eastwood drops out and Devante Reitte was injured. Connor Wrenn and Ellis Chambers are amongst the subs following injury and illness joining Victor Lusuku and Diego Edwards on the bench. McKenna Parton has completed his two game ban and is back in the Squad of sixteen. Eastwood were looking for a positive reaction after a winless run of 7 results stretching back to January.

Eastwood’s intentions were clear from the off as Jack Messom drove forward with a shot to test Bill Harrison in the Melton goal as early as the second minute. The home fans were not disappointed a minute later. Ayleal Dill picked up a loose ball and poked the ball through to the unmarked Kamani Wilson who lifted the ball over Harrison for the opening goal of the contest. The lastly barely five minutes as the Pork Pies equalised. Following a quick corner on the left Zak Munton managed to deliver the ball into the home box where it wasn’t dealt with and defender Henry Eze was on hand to slice the ball beyond Warren Squires.

The game was developing into a fine affair and the visitors showed what a good team they are as shown in their current league position. It was end to end stuff as first one team then the other attempted to gain the upper hand. Red Badger Ben Henderson was his usual troublesome self linking up with Wilson, having a fine game, ably supported by Dill.

For the visitors Tom Harris was putting in a fine shift probing and trying to conjure up some decent play combining with Mason Lee to test the resolve of Squires in the home goal. Harrison had to be alert again to deny Wilson as Eastwood drove forward playing some fine football. Callum Jones countered for Eastwood as he drove upfield and shot just wide. With 28 gone the tables were turned. Harris made a superb run down the right flank and squared the ball low and hard across the face of goal. An own goal via the outstretched boot of Jones was the unfortunate result. Nothing that Cal could do about that.

2-1 to Melton but that advantage, once again, didn’t last long. Big defender Eze tried to find ‘keeper Harrison with a badly timed header which was pounced upon by the alertness of Wilson who lobbed the equaliser for the games fourth goal. 2-2 at the break and, despite the heat, a highly rapid entertaining contest in which both teams played their part, at times forsaking their defensive shells and counter attacking with real venom and commitment.

The visitors started the second period on fire. Luther Munakandafa went close and Harris again tested the home defence with a fine strike which went inches wide. Badgers' Henderson again went close minutes later and on 50 Toby Fura and Eze combined to clear a goal bound Joe Harrison shot behind for a corner. On the counter Owen Storey and his keeper were keeping busy shutting out Wilson and Co. Eight minutes in and the home side took the lead. Sam Meakin crossed from the left, Wilson attempted to head the ball goalward which deceived Harrison and Dill was on hand to force the ball home. His first for the club.

The lead re-galvanised the Pork Pies as they tried to reduce the arrears but it was Eastwood who looked more likely, none more so than Henderson had a great chance to score but Harrison was brave and saved a certain goal with his outstretched legs. The home side were now enjoying the majority of the possession and enjoying their football but needed to be aware of the threat that Munton and Munakandafa were capable of. Squires, when called upon, was always a safe pair of hands.

Midway through the half both Joe Harrison and Kyle Wrenn went mightily close with good attempts but Melton wouldn’t lie down and roll over as again Harris and Munakandafa caused jitters in the home box. But Squires and a superb back line kept the eager duo quiet.

Despite the heat and oppressive atmosphere both sides continued to play some fine football, the home side being spurred on by a vocal crowd. Melton were now playing on the counter attack, well aware of the Wilson and Henderson threat.

Munton had a couple of half chances for the visitors and Wrenn headed just over the bar with 'keeper Harrison beaten but the game drew to a close culminating into a fine all-round display by Eastwood in a game which they showed character, guts and a will to win that seemed to have gone astray in recent weeks.

Every member of the Squad played their part against a fine footballing side who played the game in the right spirit and were worthy opponents. Well done all ~onwards and upwards for the visit of Skeggie next weekend !!

Gaffer Paul Rockley shared these thoughts with me post match:~
"Great to finally get a win under our belts after a mixture of a hard run of games and a couple of poor performances. With the improved performance last Saturday vs Boston Town a positive vibe has been around the camp. I felt the first half was an even game with both defences making mistakes which were the main contribution to all the 4 goals

I did feel at half time and probably similar to Melton's Manager that either team could have been comfortably winning at halftime by a couple of goals had it not been for the defensive errors.

2nd half I felt like the first half Melton started strong but again it was us that scored first. I did feel we had a few chances after our goal where we could have killed the game in a 10 to 15min spell where we counter attacked with regularity. That in turn made for a very nervy final 15 which I did feel we managed quite well and got us over the line

Now we need a strong finish to the season starting with our final home game against Skegness"

Captain Jacob Sturgess also imparted these words:~ "As a team in the first half we wasn’t at our best but we came in at half time and the Gaffer told the squad some home truths and second half we looked far better with lads putting there bodies on the line and got the 3 points. Happy for both lads who scored on Saturday because they both deserved their goals and ran their socks off for us PLUS Joey in midfield pulled the strings for us"

Attendance ~ 96
Referee ~ Karl Bainbridge.
Assistants ~ Kooner Singh and Edward Storey.

Eastwood CFC~ Warren Squires, Sam Meakin, Kyle Wrenn, Callum Jones, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Joe Harrison (Victor Lusuku 81') Ben Henderson (Ellis Chambers 88') Kamani Wilson, Jack Messom Ayleal Dill (McKenna Parton 71')
Substitutes not used ~ Diego Edwards and Conor Wrenn.
Caution ~ Sturgess (28' foul)

Melton Town ~ Bill Harrison, Pat Fini, Owen Storey (Cam Gilchrist 57') Toby Fura, Henry Eze, Sam Wilson (C) Luther Munakandafa, Tom Harris (Carl Whymart 57') Zak Munton, Syme Mulvaney, Mason Lee.
Substitutes not used ~ Sam Beaver, Cam Smith and Henry Dunn.