Melton Town close the gap after winning top-of-table battle

Melton Town closed the gap on UCL Division One leaders Long Buckby to a point following today's 2-1 win.

It was a stormy day and Melton were playing with the wind in the first half.

The league leaders were the more dangerous in the first few minutes and took the lead when a loose pass out of defence was cut out by Hilton, who played in Halim whose curling shot found the top corner.

Buckby carried on making the better chances and nearly doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Hilton floated a cross into Meltons box, finding the unmarked Shaw, his header beating Peet but was cleared off the line by Storey.

The ball went straight up the other end and Lever drove in a low cross which was cut out by Johnson, only for the ball to skim off the top of the bar.

The resulting corner found Beaver unmarked in the six yard box but his header hit the ground and cleared the crossbar by inches.

Melton were starting to dominate the game and Lever almost equalised when he turned the defence inside and out before lobbing the keeper, but Bull managed to get a finger tip to it.

He was called upon again minutes later when a through ball found Munton clear and his half volley needed Bull to save at full stretch with Levers follow up shot being blocked on the line.

On the half hour Shaw went on a run down the right and let fly with a low shot which had Peet clambering to palm it around the post.

Dunn tried his luck from the edge of the area but his curling shot went a foot wide of the upright.

Then with the last kick of the half Bucalossis freekick ricocheted off the foot of the post.

Melton were now playing against the wind in the second half but were still dominating play in search of the equaliser.

Lever won a 50/50 out wide and sent in a low cross which Finnell miscontrolled and Astill pounced with a flash shot which went agonisingly wide.

Halim bought about a great save from Peet from an acute angle on the hour but Melton were dictating the play and in the 73rd minute they were finally rewarded.

The ball was sent out to the Lever on the touchline and he sent in a quick cross which was flicked in by Munton.

Then two minutes later a long ball into the Buckby box to Parsons had Gamble mistiming his tackle and Munton duly sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

With a minute left on the clock Proudlock took his chance with a low shot from 20 yards out, Peet saved with his feet but it only went out as far as Munton who sent a fierce shot which needed Peet to block.

As injury time arrived Munton beat the offside trap and, looking for his hat-trick, sent a belter towards the corner of the net only for it to be deflected wide.

The large crowd were treated to an exciting match up of two good teams who will be in the promotion mix come the end of the season.

Melton ended Long Buckby's unbeaten start to the season and deserved the three points today just for their teamwork alone.

They now visit Lutterworth on Tuesday before their first ever appearance in round one of The FA Vase against Shepshed Dynamo next Saturday.

TOWN: Peet, Storey, Beaver, Bucalossi, Benjamin (Gilchrist), Fray, Lever, Astill (Parsons), Munton, Dunn, Harris.

Holwell Sports recorded a 5-0 home win against Irchester United this afternoon.

Aaron Black and Aidan Black both grabbed braces while Luke Smith was also on target.