Melton Hockey: First XI held in final home game

The first half started well enough with the home team dominating possession and territory, leading to several good chances, but Melton were wasteful in front of goal.

As the rain fell steadily, the game became more attritional as players battled the difficult conditions and Tamworth opened the scoring with a rare break as their forward fortuitously looped the ball over the onrushing Eden.

Melton finally made their pressure tell when Judge and Sibun linked before squaring for Kendall to touch the ball over the keeper into the net.

Although far from their best, Melton certainly deserved to at least be level at the break.

Yet Melton were much worse in the second half as they failed to retake control of the game.

Chances came and went at both ends, with Tamworth forcing several good saves from Eden, and the Melton defence found themselves called into action on numerous occasions as Brown, Taylor, Judge and Foode all made last-ditch tackles.

At the other end a strong run from Sibun led to the ball popping up in the air for Kendall to scuff a finish past the keeper and put Melton ahead.

Perhaps naively, Melton failed to see the game out, and after failing to score at one end they found themselves over-committed.

Tamworth broke at speed, and the home rearguard was left with too many attackers to deal with and the visitors levelled with only a few minutes remaining.

Time ticked away and Melton finished their last home game with only a point when they would really have expected all three.

The Firsts play their last game of the season away to Nottingham on Saturday.