Life's a 'Holbeach' as Melton add another win to their belts

Melton Town continued their good form with a second straight win as goals from Will Bestwick, Cam Smith and Robbie Parsons saw them dominate Holbeach United in a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Another cold and stormy day welcomed both teams as Holbeach arrived looking to turn their fortunes and Melton were eyeing up a top five finish. The game got off to a lively start with Melton playing with the wind at their backs. Three minutes in and a long ball over the Holbeach defence found Zak Munton who cut in and fired a low shot that was blocked by James Blakes feet. The resulting corner saw Cam Gilchrist meeting the ball with a powerful header that Blake tipped over the bar.

Melton Town line up with wristbands to show their support for Ukraine. Photo: NEMM

The pressure continued as Bestwick went down the right and played the ball back to Sam Beaver who floated a great cross into Munton who guided the ball into the corner of the net, only to see the flag to go up for an offside that the Pork Pie Army clearly didn’t agree with. Syme Mulvany was next to test the keeper when he went on a run and curled in a shot that had Blake diving to tip the ball around the post.

The deadlock was eventually broken midway through the first half when Paul Anderson beat Luke Nicholson for pace and sent in a cross which Mulvany connected with only to see his shot be cleared away from the goal-line, Bestwick was quickest to the clearance and from a tight angle stroked it into the far corner.

Will Bestwick strikes it home against Holbeach United on Saturday. Photo: NEMM

Melton remained dominant in possession and nearly made it two when a Beaver cross caught the wind and bounced off the crossbar. A minute later Melton doubled their lead when Mulvaney drove into the area and found Smith open in the box, Smith slotted the ball into the net for his third career goal for the Reds.

After the break Melton continued to pressure the Holbeach defence with Smith seeing his first time shot go inches wide of the post. With 15 minutes to go Spencer Wier Daley sent in a low cross from the left which saw Smith again shooting just wide. The hosts eventually got their just reward two minutes later when Mulvany received the ball and neatly chipped William Nuttell, setting Parsons clear on goal as he slotted the ball under the keeper for his first goal since returning to the club.

Will Bestwick celebrates in style on Saturday afternoon. Photo: NEMM

The final chance came with four minutes to go as Beaver sent a ball over the defence picking out Smith who was clear on goal only to see his first time shot was well saved by Blake. Town were dominant from start to finish and controlled every part of the match. Melton move up to sixth with a trip to Boston Town on the horizon next Saturday.

A repeat of the victory over the Poachers from a week ago could see Melton rise to fifth in the league, which would surely surpass the Pork Pie Army’s expectations if asked at the start of the campaign.

Report: Sam Ellis

Photos: NEMM