Football: Old Newton fire more blanks

Tom Abbott is denied.

Old Newton United 0 
Melton St Audrys 2

Old Newton hit the bar twice and had two efforts cleared off the line but still ended up pointless this afternoon.

After winning their first three games of the season, United have failed to win a league game since and were made to pay the price for a lack of concentration against a team they had already beaten away from home.

Adam Rickwood had an early shot blocked after being set up by Sam Bobby and Aaron Shave and the hosts should have gone ahead after 12 minutes when Tom Abbott broke through. But the winger failed to beat Adam Wilson and the goalkeeper's swift clearance caught the home defence napping as Richard Phillips nipped in to score after Kieron Joseph's effort was blocked on the line.

Old Newton found the net after 19 minutes when Paul Thorndyke fired home but the linesman's flag was already up for offside. Yet again, Melton took advantage of the let-off to go up the other end to score, this time Joseph firing in from the spot after being fouled by Matt Huckins.

Gavin Sealey pulled off a fine save to deny Joseph but was rarely tested again.

Melton clear their lines.

Shave sent a looping shot goalwards after 63 minutes. It beat WIlson but bounced back off the angle of post and crossbar.

Six minutes later Abbott pulled the ball back for Craig Lockwood but Wilson blocked his shot and then swooped to pick up the loose ball before any attacker could react.

Abbott then crossed for Thorndyke and his 18-yard diving header beat Wilson but crashed back off the bar.

Melton were reduced to ten men after 82 minutes when Joseph was sent off after lashing out off the ball.

Three minutes before full-time Lockwood's header beat Wilson but this time it was defender James Bradbrook who got back to clear off the line.

Thorndyke wasted a good chance to pull one back in the first of six minutes of stoppage time but elected to pass with the goal gaping.

Melton found the net again but substitute Nathan Aston's strike was ruled out for kicking the ball out of Sealey's grasp. 

It's not pleasant viewing for the
home management team.

Old Newton: Sealey, Huckins (Bolton 82 mins), Bobby, Ager, Bloom, Taylor, Abbott, Lockwood, Thorndyke, Rickwood (Ismay 32), Shave. Substitute (not used): Pooley.

Bookings: Huckins, foul 21; Taylor, foul 90+3.

Melton: Wilson, Farthing (Farquahar 76), Mayes (Beaton half-time), Herring-Smith, Bradbrook, Walters, Curran, Covey, Phillips (Ashton 76), Green, Joseph.

Goals: Phillips (12), Joseph pen (21).

Bookings: Joseph, dissent 57; Curran, ungentlemanly conduct 89.

Sending-off: Joseph, foul 82.

• See more pictures from the match, here.
• and the Melton version of the game in the Green'Un, here.