Bodycraft Midlands Premier League
Mansfield 2 Melton HC Firsts 2

Melton left it late to grab a share of the spoils on Saturday, but could have taken all three points in the first game of their crucial weekend.

Melton started the brighter and moved the ball about at ease with Andy Sibun finding lots of joy down the right. Melton were awarded the games first short corner and Matt Snow's attempt was well saved. Melton continued to create the clearer chances, but failed to get the vital touch.

Mansfield's confidence started to grow and Nick Eden was called into action, deflecting a low shot around the post. The home side's first short corner was defended well and cleared.

Melton's opening was rewarded with the first goal when good work by Snow set up Bobby Read whose first-time shot found the bottom corner of the goal for his first goal for the club.

Mansfield finished the half the brighter, and after a series of short corners, they equalized with a scrappy goal after the initial shot had been saved.

Melton's best chance before half-time came from a short corner, but Mark Messina's shot was well saved.

Coach Jack Wells asked Melton to up their game and the intensity and to tighten up the defence. Mansfield continued where they had finished and soon had Melton on the retreat. The game started to turn scrappy as both teams looked for the decisive goal.

And Mansfield reaped the rewards when a short corner was dispatched low to Eden's right. Tim Roberts was shown a green card for breaking down play as Melton lost their way, but started to battle their way back and finished the stronger.

Sibun again enjoyed lots of joy down the right, Danny Willcock turned a few defenders inside out, but his shot was well saved.

Sibun jinked inside and beat three men only to put his reverse stick shot wide with keeper wrong-footed.

Melton equalised with about eight minutes left when a short corner routine squeezed under the Mansfield goal and Sibun was quickest to react and turn home.

Mansfield looked shaky and Melton almost sneaked a late winner when Willcock fed Read who slipped at the vital point and his shot was smothered.

Jonathon Brooks intercepted a defensive clearance but failed to link up with Willcock.

Melton: N Eden, C Foode, M Messina, G Hacking, D Shaw, R Randall, C Eden, A Sibun, D Willcock, J Brooks, M Snow, T Roberts, B Read, J Judge.

Chesterfield 3 Melton 2

Melton paid the price for a slow and inept start in their crunch relegation battle against bottom club Chesterfield.

Having had their game the previous day postponed, Chesterfield started the brighter, but Melton were happy to let them play the ball around as their defensive platform looked solid.

Melton's passing just wasn't of the quality expected and with the hosts playing an aggressive defence, they forced Melton into hurried passes.

The home side struck first from a short corner that was struck hard and low but went in too easily. Melton started to find their passes, but Chesterfield continued to break down play without punishment.

The only joy was a couple of long corners but they came to nothing as Chesterfield added to their tally with an identical short corner routine.

Melton found their way back when Jason Creed pounced on a mistake in defence, rounded the goalie and tapped home. Melton finished the better of the teams but the home side still looked threatening.

Melton continued on the front foot after half-time, but again Chesterfield broke down play and the umpires kept the cards in their pockets. The umpiring started to frustrate Melton too easily and Chesterfield soon restored their two-goal advantage when another strike from a short corner beat Nick Eden at his near post.

The umpires finally lost patience with Chesterfield and a long overdue yellow card was shown for a bad tackle on Danny Willcock after good work by Chris Eden and Jonathon Brooks in defence put the hosts on the back foot.

This swung the impetus Melton's way and they found holes and but for better finishing would have got their second goal. Melton were vulnerable to the counter-attack and only good last-ditch tackling prevented Chesterfield adding to their tally.

The pressure soon told, Creed found Willcock at the back post with an open goal, but Willcock was fouled and a penalty stroke awarded with the offending player sitting out the rest of the game. Matt Snow converted to set up a tense finale.

In the last five minutes Melton pushed on further with the opposition reduced to nine men, but when Chris Foode was sin-binned for a late tackle and Chesterfield were returned to 10 men, the game petered out.

Melton left disappointed knowing they had under-performed again. With one point separating the bottom three teams, every game will now matter for Melton if they want to remain in this division for another season.

Melton: N Eden, M Messina, C Foode, D Shaw, J Judge, R Randall, C Eden, D Willcock, J Creed, B Read, J Brook, A Sibun, M Snow.