Melton Town through to County Cup quarter-finals with last-gasp winner

Melton Town booked their place in the Senior County Cup quarter-finals with a late winner at East Midlands Counties League side Anstey Nomads on Tuesday night.
Melton Town line up before their first floodlit fixture at Digital Deadline Park EMN-161210-155613002Melton Town line up before their first floodlit fixture at Digital Deadline Park EMN-161210-155613002
Melton Town line up before their first floodlit fixture at Digital Deadline Park EMN-161210-155613002

Melton got off to the perfect start after only three minutes when they were awarded a free-kick 35 yards out on the left.

Jordan Cufflin-Stableford overhit his cross, but somehow the keeper let the ball spill through his hands and into the net.

Anstey responded well and had most of the play for the rest of the half.

But the home side couldn’t break down Melton’s defence with Kieron Clayton coming to their rescue several times and Richard Cragg making two decent saves.

Town looked dangerous on the break and probably should have added to their tally with Ash Palfreyman shooting over the bar from the edge of the area and Gus Gentlemen forcing a decent save from the keeper from close range.

The visitors started the second half a little better with Byrne causing problems for the home defence, but Anstey again got on top.

Cragg was kept busy in the Melton goal with some fine handling from crosses into the box and made two excellent saves to deny Darren Taylor.

Melton finally took the pressure off with the introduction of Steve Truman and started to play some decent football, but against the run of play, Anstey levelled.

From a counter-attack, the ball broke free to Taylor who curled a beautiful shot from the edge of the box into the top corner with five minutes left.

The tie looked to be going into extra time, but Melton snatched a winner in the 90th minute.

Byrne broke free on the right flank and his great centre picked out Gentlemen who prodded home from two yards to send Melton into the draw for the last eight.

Potter Carpets Man-of-the-Match: Richard Cragg.

Town: Cragg, Lapworth, Clayton, Mann, Gentlemen, Bishop (Truman), Myring, Love (Smith), Cufflin-Stableford, Palfreyman, Byrne, Griffin.