Melton Town beat Hucknall Town for third straight away win
Melton's home form may have evaded them but away from home they have found their mojo and kept up that great run of form with a 4-2 win at Hucknall to record a third straight away victory in the UCL Premier North on Saturday.
The first quarter of the match saw very few chances made as both teams cancelled each other out.
The only effort came from Luther Munakandafa when he went on a run along the edge of the Hucknall box only to see his off-balance shot go wide.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute.
Toby Fura’s free kick look destined for the bottom corner of the goal, only for a fully stretched Alfie Smith-Eccles to parry the ball around the upright.
But the resulting corner found Ezekiel Danso lurking unmarked on the penalty spot to make a powerful header which crept into the top corner.
Minutes later the visitors doubled their lead. Munakandafa went on a run in the box and stopped to take aim before going past Aaron Short who tripped the Melton winger to earn a penalty.
Kalis Gore, playing his 100th game for the club, stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Melton were on top and minutes later Munakandafa played a ball across the edge of the area to Kieran Hayes, who curled a shot which Smith-Eccles tipped over the crossbar.
The resulting corner was cleared to the halfway line and Bradley Wells spotted Bill Harrison off his line and tried to chip him from 50 yards out only to see it shave the post.
The home team halved the deficit in the 38th minute when Taylor Jaine picked up the ball midway in Melton’s half and went on a run past two defenders before his low shot crept into the far corner of the net.
Just before half-time a free kick on the touchline was sent in and met by the head of Jozef Baxter, but was well saved.
Minutes into the second half Hucknall were back on level terms when Jaine beat Danso for pace before picking out Luis Parker unmarked in the box, and he slotted his effort into the bottom corner of the net.
The home team were now on top and hunting for a third.
Bradley Wells sent in a deep cross to the edge of Melton’s area which was met by Joseph Ashurst, whose volley hit the crossbar.
Melton started to battle back and in the 58th minute Munakandafa went on a run and his hard shot was cleared off the line. The resulting corner found Dave Chapman whose header beat the keeper for power and made it 3-2.
On the hour Luis Parker had a shot from 20 yards out which smacked the crossbar.
In the 70th minute Andre Williams and Kieran Hayes combined before crossing to the back post to Yaegan Gore who, from two yards out, managed to head the ball wide.
Then with minutes to go Melton put the game to bed when a quick counter attack from a Hucknall corner saw them go three on one and Theo Baker played the ball out to Andre Williams. He duly returned the ball for Baker to smash the ball past Smith-Eccles.
This was an entertaining game with both teams playing some good football.
It was probably the best performance of the year so far from Melton and moved them away from the relegation zone.
Melton were due to play another away match on Tuesday against Newark & Sherwood before welcoming Wisbech Town on Saturday.