Melton Town 0-0 Loughborough Students (13/04/2024)

Melton’s final game of the regular season was against Loughborough Students in what could be called a dress rehearsal for next Saturdays Play-Off semi final, where the pair will meet again.

Both teams made half a dozen changes to their line ups. Melton got off to a commanding start and as early as the second minute. A Melton short corner to Tye Simpson was played onto Cam Gilchrist only for his effort to be blocked on the line. The resulting corner was sent to the far post where Tom Manship unleashed a shot which went inches over.

Thabang Dube fired in a shot from the edge of the area which had the visitors’ keeper at full stretch to touch the ball around the post. Loughborough’s first chance came in the 19th minute with Edwards playing a ball into Wicks who curled a shot in which went a foot wide.

Melton nearly opened the scoring halfway through the half when a corner found Toby Fura on the edge of the d, he sent in a shot which was fumbled and Gilchrist pounced onto the loose ball but sent it the wrong side of the post.

A Students corner fell to Edwards whose close range shot was saved by Bill Harrison. How the visitors didn’t take the lead with two minutes to go is a mystery. A freekick was pumped into the box with Edwards getting onto the end of it only for the ball to smack the crossbar, the rebound fell nicely to Allen who also hit the crossbar and landing on the line and being cleared away to safety.

The last action of the first half saw Morales on a quick break, running 30 yards only for his low shot to go inches wide of the upright. Just after the hour mark a ball over the top found Edwards clear on goal, he chipped the Melton keeper but saw the ball sail over the bar.

Thew was unlucky when he drove into the penalty area before slipping a shot past Harrison only to hit the post. With four minutes to go Beaver found himself clear of the defence and needed a last ditch tackle to prevent him putting the hosts into the lead.

The final chance fell to the visitors when Thew had a run down the wing before finding Keene in the Melton box, his low shot went inches past the far post. Loughborough ended up third placed last season and Melton were fourth. They ended up in the same positions at the end of this season which shows how close next weeks play-off match should be.