Upon arrival at the ground we paid our dues and chose our sitting positions (right in the glorious sun that saw me expose my belly in the hope of turning from milky white to Cadbury brown). We were soon joined by the fine gent that is Richard Kemp (Long Melford President and Independent Councillor) and his lovely wife Blanche, who both kept us entertained with footballing stories and insightful gems. Soon the teams were taking the pitch and we all settled in to watch the encounter where I shifted position to stay out of the glare and get a solid view of both goals.
With the haze insistent the game got underway with matters quite stagnant early on. The away team sat back and allowed the opposing force to prod and poke like an arse-inspecting doctor with a criminal record as long as your arm. After taking a slight mauling however Long Melford sprang a counter with some swift football culminating in a tumbling for No 9 (Jamie Griffiths) in the box. The put-upon judge who holds all the cards was unimpressed and waved play on with another penalty shout at the other end also ignored. The latter claim for a gratis gift was for a handball, I think if the decision would have been given it would have been quite scandalous, almost akin to the time when Alan Ball claimed to have a 14 inch dongler.
The Greens were on top during the opening throes but the next action came after a Long Melford ball ended in a corner that was delivered, dealt with, reposted and nutted over by a player in free-space. I failed to get the cranium cracking player's number - darn this awkward sun. Gorleston were soon roaming forth, with No 10 (Connor Ingram) laying the ball onto No 9 (Christy Finch) who shot on the slow turn and watched the ball trickle wide. This was a grinding first 45 with little between the sides. As the hosts pushed and pressed the guests stood firm with their mittman punching a few balls clear and collecting a few angled kicks with ease.
Half chances came and disappeared down the U-bend of no hope before Long Melford advanced with much promise. The ball was passed across the box, No 11 (George Day) gathered and decided to swing the shank and send forth a decent curler that just stayed on the wrong side of the timber - now that was close. Again the visitor's came and following a free-kick, a ball out wide was crossed and a header was denied at the very last, leaving Gorleston thanking their lucky stars. The half wound down with little else to report besides Gorleston's No 11 (Robbie Sweeney) having a bonus boot on target that was too easy for the keeper. By now I was very much in need of a good cuppa.
As my lasses went for a beverage I chatted with a fine bloke who had played for Cambridge and several other clubs in his heyday. Alas I couldn't compare my footballing past with this as the highest level I ever competed at was as a substitute for the Titbit's Eleven reserve team who competed in the now defunct Rubber Arse Magazine League - now that is fantasy football.
With brew in one hand and pen in the other the second half began and I scribbled and slopped with keen abandon. Gorleston had had a man sin-binned at the end of the first half - Long Melford were keen to capitalise. After a scrapyard opening 5 minutes Gorleston tried to progress but the guest keeper (Matt Walker) gathered and humped long. The last defender couldn't manage matters and in pounced No 7 (Hassan Ally) to collect and slide past the stick man to open the day's scoring. The lead lasted only a couple of minutes though when a ball forth for Gorleston saw a defender/keeper miscommunication and in stepped Finch to grab the loose globe and fire home from a tight angle - Long Melford had committed the cardinal sin (no, not pissing in the font water but losing a goal just after scoring one).
This was a good contest now and I am sure many would have put money on Gorleston turning up the heat. Not so, despite being desperate to keep their title challenge on track Gorleston lacked creativity and urgency and were soon trailing again after a long free-kick was nutted back into the perilous zone and No 8 (Ben Judge) swivelled and fired home with sanguine ease. This was a finger up the rear of the resident ranks who now tried to force the issue (there is nowt worse than straining a sphincter muscle). A cross into the box by No 8 (Joel Watts) was pushed away by the hand of the prostrate keeper with an immediate follow-up shot coming via No 17 (Kyle Ingram) with the gloved guardian recovering to produce a quite excellent save.
Time was now Gorleston's enemy and Long Melford were doing their best to slow matters up and quell any home momentum. With 10 minutes left The Greens continued to seek an equaliser whilst The Villagers played a cagey offside game. Home-free kicks were earned and wasted whilst the LM lads came close to grabbing a third. Into extra time we soon went and the home No 5 (Connor Deeks) was complacent at the back and duly robbed of possession, No 9 (Josh Norris) had his eye on goal but unselfishly fed (Griffiths) who rattled home to secure the 3 point prize.
As the travelling fans shouted for full-time and the lone sable clad figure of tested patience refused to blow his pea-laden contraption Long Melford nearly had a fourth but No 14 (Ronnie Ward) somehow put the ball over the bar from only a few feet out. Gorleston refused to give in but the best they could offer was a couple of shots wide of the mark - the game would have to be signed off as a bad day at the office. The referee closed proceedings soon after, we said farewells to Richard and Blanche and consider Long Melford's No 8 (Ben Judge) worthy of the Man of the Match Award after a live-wire stint that gave his team constant options and a good supply of energy. A player always thinking and looking to make a difference I thought.
We pootled off happy with the match observed, it will be good to get back over this end real soon.
FINAL THOUGHT - As a neutral, the difference between the teams today was hardly noticeable despite the league positions of both units. What I witnessed was the fact that Long Melford have enough desire to get clear of the drop-zone and maybe finish the season in a more respectable position but, running off the ball and playing with greater width are crucial to rising within the ranks as well as stout discipline. Gorleston looked a trifle one-paced today and for me, just didn't battle hard enough for 50/50 balls and when in a position of threa and didn't deliver anything of quality. Passion and pride are now needed to win this league as well as a fiery hunger and some focused work on dead ball situations. The outcome lies in their own hands, this loss will test their mettle - I shall be checking on-line to see the weekly results.
Thanks go to all though for another grand Non-League outing - I can't fault it and here's to many, many more adventures.
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