Report by Rob Binns
Woodbridge Town suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Long Melford despite a performance that warranted more.
Santi Davies opened the scoring before Kelsey Trotter levelled the game. Will Wingfield scored from the spot to regain the lead and lack of clinicality in front of goal was the issue for the Peckers again as they were unable to get a second equaliser.
The visitors went in front after nine minutes when Ben Judge broke down the left and crossed for Davies who had ghosted into the box untracked to tuck away a diving header from six yards out.
Woodbridge had a chance to equalise in the 31st minute when Long Melford failed to clear a wide free kick allowing Trotter to head towards goal under pressure but he could only loop a header over the bar.
Long Melford almost doubled their lead shortly after which again came from Judge breaking down the left and crossing into the box. This time Fred Dende was the main on the end of it, unmarked at the back post, but his header came back off the post.
The Peckers equalised five minutes after the break when visiting keeper Matt Walker failed to clear a corner, punching it to the feet of Trotter who touched the ball down before finishing into the far side netting to continue his good run of scoring form.
Long Melford were awarded a penalty five minutes later when Ryan Gibbs was sent through on goal and Wiggins was judged to have illegally pulled him back by the referee.
Wingfield stepped up to take it and calmly slotted into the bottom corner to restore his side’s lead.
The Peckers almost equalised in stunning fashion after 83 minutes when Evan Bolt took full advantage of the windy conditions and almost curled the ball in direct from a corner but the fingertips of Walker denied him.
Despite dominating the second half Woodbridge were unable to get a second equaliser and walked away with a defeat that felt very undeserved. We return to action on Saturday when Mildenhall Town visit the Homestyle Ground.
Woodbridge: Stronge, Keeble, Leggett, Clark (Crowe 65), Wiggins, Rea, Finlinson, Bolt, Trotter, Kussan, Monteith-Weed (Barber 71) Unused: Webster, Curran
Long Melford: Walker, J Gibbs (Hassan 76), Judge, Jackson, Davies (H Brown 76), Dende, Witing-Noakes, R Gibbs (Humphreys 76), J Brown, Wingfield, Akinade Unused: Fowler, Hertz