Melton Town hold defence at home to gain point against Loughborough Students

Melton Town bounced back from two straight defeats with a battling point against Loughborough Students. A Zak Munton brace and a sublime free kick from Toby Fura sealed a point in a 3-3 draw against one of the divisions form sides.

Melton celebrate a goal against Loughbrough Students on Saturday. Photo: NEMM

Loughborough Students started the day fourth in the table, having won six matches on the bounce, and the Scholars started the better of two sides, but it was Melton’s first attack of the game in the fourth minute that saw debutant Karl Whymark play a ball out wide to Tom Harris who beat Finlay Brennan for pace, sending in a low pass back to Whymark who was tripped well inside the area.

Munton stepped up and sent the spot kick right down the middle for his first goal of the day. Both teams were playing a fast passing game and in the 14th minute The Students almost equalised when a ball into the box found Theo Sackey Mensah who played a quick one two with Tope Fadahunsi before firing off a shot which flashed past the far post.

Melton fought hard during windy conditions on Saturday. Photo: NEMM

Moments later a Loughborough corner was headed on and found Ethan O’Toole on the line where he scrambled the ball inches over the line for the visitors’ equaliser. Chances became rare as both teams defended well in an entertaining end-to-end affair. A freekick on the half hour mark found Henry Eze, whose powerful header had to cleared off the line by Ben Whiting. Whymark floated another freekick into the box but Cam Gilchrist’s volley went just over the bar.

A repeat of the first half saw the visitors start the better, but a similar Melton move to the first goal saw Whymark playing a ball out wide to Harris who, again, beat his man and send in a cross which Whiting fumbled, allowing Munton to pounce to tap the ball into an empty net in the 49th minute. It didn’t take long for the visitors to equalise for a second time though, when a low cross found O’Toole unmarked in the six yard box, side-footing into the net.

Loughborough should have taken the lead halfway through the second half when Melton’s defence failed to clear a ball, allowing it to fall to Dylan Edwards with an open goal. Fortunately the ball seemed to get stuck under his foot and the chance went begging. O’Toole later had a half volley from the edge of the area which went inches over as the Scholars pushed for a winner. The game continued to flow from end to end as both teams looked to secure all three points.

Melton hung on for a point on Saturday. Photo: NEMM

The Students staked their claim in the 75th minute when a ball down the middle found Anthony Lynn, the substitute beat the offside trap and slotted the ball into the corner. Shortly after Lynn had the chance to put the game to bed but fired over the bar from five yards out. The drama was far from over though and with five minutes to go Fura curled a magnificent free kick in from 20 yards out.

Storm Eunice visited Signright park on Saturday afternoon. Photo: NEMM

Deep into stoppage time Melton almost snatched victory when Munton played a ball behind the defence where Syme Mulvany turned his defender and saw his low shot creep agonisingly wide of the far post. The Referee brought an end to what was an entertaining game of football by two teams that like to play the ball on the ground. Town should be happy with taking four points from one of the league’s best teams as they now move on to a home game against Boston Town next week in a bid to climb into the top six.

Report by Sam Ellis