DUFFY STRIKE ENOUGH TO SEND ST MICHAELS TOP WITH WIN AT MELTON

MELTON TOWN 0 V BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS 1
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION 1 @ DIGITAL DEADLINE PARK
22 OCTOBER 2016 --- 3PM

ACTION AT MELTON TOWN FC

The only goal of an enthralling game came on 58 minutes from the visitors Niall Duffy that proved enough to send the Northamptonshire side to the top of the table at Burton Road.  The game produced a range of talking points early on when Melton could have been 2 up after a penalty decision seemed to be overturned and then a superb volley was ruled out for offside.  A draw may have been a fair result but it was settled on a solitary goal that Duffy took with ease.
Decision made on Saturday morning from the usual selection of games that had been reduced to around 3 matches and with the chance of a first visit to Melton Mowbray and the clubs football ground now situated on Melton Sports Village Burton Road alongside some pastry the choice was made of a visit to NE Leicestershire.

THE GREETING SAYS FOOD

Departure was made just after 1030 from base station to allow some time in the town for a sightseeing venture.  Although this is becoming repetitive todays journey to Leicester was once again standing only and after a 50 minute wait in Leicester the 2 carriage Cross Country affair involved standing again to our destination although this was just 15 minutes in journey time.  Upon departure of the service at platform 1 you are greeted by a large welcome to Melton Mowbray sign extolling the town as the rural capital of food, home of Melton Mowbray pork pies and stilton cheese, I knew there was a reason I had chosen this game!

PURVEYOR OF THE FAMOUS MELTON MOWBRAY PRODUCT

A short walk into town takes us past Anne of Cleves House part of her settlement following separation from Henry V111 with St Marys church towering over the property from close proximity.  The town was looking lively and we did an outer circuit bypassing a busy looking Wetherspoon's before reaching the main shopping area and finding our first destination Dickinson and Morris and Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe.  Of course we skirted around the Corn Exchange shopping mall but delay no more it was time to sample one of the towns famous delicacies.  Unwrapped and consumed we had soon seen most of this smart little town centre and were on our way back to whence we came, the station.  Well of course you have guessed it the ground is back past the station a 20 minute amble away,  Mick had missed out on the pie and opted for fish cake and chips from the chippy by the Railway station and needless to say for 'being civil purposes' I joined him with a similar portion.

SMART SIGNAGE IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AROUND THE APPROACH TO THE GROUND

As we headed towards the ground over the railway bridge to the left is Masterfoods factory site the former home of Chappie dog food and Pedigree animal foods in a later time, I offered Mick a bowl for his sweet but he declined.
After the short walk through the leafy posh suburbs of Melton we arrived at Melton Sports Village a council owned privately run site.  Along the approach driveway there are a selection of buildings but behind the sports centre on the left is a hockey astroturf pitch which was in use plus there seemed to be some activity from Melton Rugby Club too.  Access to the football pitch which is behind the hockey pitch is signposted by a selection of modern signs along a walk way that gives the feel you are about to embark on one of those walks around a country park run by your local council.

MELTON TOWN ON THE BALL

Arrival at the pay box at 1.30pm and it was good to see the area open and a nice greeting from a pleasant lady who later proved women's well known abilities to multi task by serving in the snack bar.
A quick look at the ground and Melton Town FC moved back into the town towards the later stage of last season after gaining promotion from The Leicestershire Senior League here they are with new floodlights and a smart little basic set up.  All of the business end of the ground is behind the turnstile with a selection of cabins offering hospitality, grounds mans store, snack bar, stand and toilet block before you reach some nice changing rooms cabins with wooden stickered effect being their highlight.  The quirky feature here is the stand named The Barbie Reeves Stand which has around 100 full size green tip up seats with a temporary style structure topped off with a canvass roof.  The whole build is secured into the floor but I guess it may be fun when the wind gets up overall its very similar to The New Saints in The Welsh Premier League but on a smaller basis in relation to its length.  The whole ground is railed off with the far side being a grassed area fenced off to the rear but containing home and away dugouts.  The bottom end goal backs away to further playing fields and is green meshed fenced as we come back up the near side touchline we are back on tarmac hard standing which continues around the business end too.  So its a smart new affair with a tightly cut pitch that offers a slope away from the entrance it all looks quite nice.  As with many step 6 grounds there is no PA system and the programme is just an 8 page affair but is a smart little effort with reading from the manager, chair, visitors page, history, results, tables and team details so overall it mostly does its job.

ST MICHAELS MANAGEMENT TEAM OF MITCH AUSTIN [RIGHT] AND JIM FREEMAN ARE CAUGHT COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE CAMERA!

As with most new grounds there was a fair few first time visitors coming along to take a look and Mick had disappeared talking to hoppers from Birmingham and Coventry after speaking to some of the visiting supporters first.  We both had a nice conversation and greeting from Melton Town General Manager Matt Curtis who gave us a little more insight into the club.  It was also good to meet Nick a Chelsea fan who is now residing in Melton Mowbray and was here with his lens to get some game pictures thanks for the chat always interesting to meet a wide selection of fans as ever. One of its assets being their manager is the former Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City striker Tony Thorpe.  Teams were gained from Matt and then a quick visit to the referee to obtain the visitors selections.
There was plenty of time for a visit to the snack bar for some refreshments and a little bit of chocolate to keep the strength up!

REFEREE GRAY HAS A CHAT WITH MELTON CAPTAIN LEE MANN

The game started controversially when Melton's Jordan Cufflin-Stableford was upended in the box referee Shaun Gray appeared to give the penalty but after consulting his linesman weirdly gave the decision the opposite way.  Then moments later a superb back post volley from Tom Burns found the back of the net only for an offside flag to subdue the celebrations.

REUBEN NOEL RICHARDS GETS A HEADER IN

The visitors were not to be outdone as the game swung from end to end Reubus Noel Richards could have had a hat trick one chance was following excellent work from Nathaniel Liburd who had got forward to supply the cross.  St Michaels should have taken the lead just before half time when Niall Duffy had a great chance at the far post but his effort went wide.  The first half had been an entertaining affair but at times littered with an awful lot of referees whistle but a lot of the fun of this had been both benches reaction which at times can only be summed up in dismay.  However rather than both dug outs getting combative they laughed at and with one another to ease any surprise, so much so that Bugbrooke manager Mitchell Austin at one stage took to lying down in the technical area!
The second half started with Melton in the ascendancy and after 48 minutes Shannon Myring saw visiting keeper Harry Oldham deny him.
The visitors were looking dangerous on the break and one such move supplied the winning goal when a laid in ball off the right found the home defence off the pace and Duffy fired home from just inside the box past Richard Cragg in the Melton goal after 58 minutes.

MORE FUN IN THE VISITORS TECHNICAL AREA

The game was now a tantalising affair with Melton going all out for an equaliser but the visitors looking ever the more dangerous on the counter attack.  We were to see no more goals however I could have watched another 30 minutes of this game it was full of interest.  Melton did find themselves down to 10 men on 90 minutes when Gus Gentleman was shown, rather harshly, a second yellow card and the inevitable red.
A draw would probably have been most neutrals score line here but much as the blog often struggles for a good UCL game this one was one of the better ones with a credit to both teams who gave it there all in an attacking encounter.
With a gentle walk back down to the station we arrived with around 15 minutes to spare before securing our first seat of the day on the 1730 departure which sailed by in conversation with a pleasant couple who were returning to Leicester.
Leicester station was crowded with home fans and Crystal Palace supporters after their home game in the Premier League today but this didn't interfere with out plans to travel and secure, wait for it, our next set of seats!  We were soon at base station just shy of 7pm and returning via a stripey boys bus after a very enjoyable day out with two entertaining sides.

VICTORIOUS ST MICHAELS