Foxes beaten after two players are red carded

The Melton side started brightly and won a corner after three minutes.

Jake Dawkin got up well but put his header over the bar from Adam Lomas’ flag kick.

Captain Alex Walker then put Shaun Smith clean through the middle but the home goalkeeper saved well.

The home side hit back with their midfielder firing over the bar and then flashing the ball across the goalmouth.

Bradley Carroll, who was working hard in midfield for Foxes, instigated another good move for the Foxes. When the ball was fed out to Marcus Rowland, the youngster cut inside before hitting a stunning 20-yarder which brought an equally brilliant save.

The same player then latched on to a loose ball just inside the box seconds later only to see the keeper thwart his effort with another save.

Seconds later the home side were rocked by having a player sent off for appearing to head-butt Walker

From the resulting free kick, Smith found himself clear in front of a gaping goal but the normally deadly striker miscued from four yards. His day got worse five minutes later when the referee gave the frustrated striker his marching orders for a swearing offence, which appeared a harsh decision.

The home side played some delightful football but it was the Melton boys who almost drew first blood, when Alex Horobin headed narrowly wide from a driven corner by Lomas.

Walker and Carroll missed chances early in the second half before the hosts broke away to take the lead, courtesy of an easy tap in for their right winger.

The home side confirmed victory when Lovegrove allowed a cross to slip through his hands and into the net.

Foxes U18: C Lovegrove, A Kotarba, A Horobin, J Dawkins, R Gavin, A Lomas, A Walker, T Dryell. B Carroll, S Smith. M Rowland. C Ainge, C Steans. A Doherty. F Lewis.