Melton Town made club history on Saturday by progressing to the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round for the first time with a 3~2 win away to Goole AFC.

Kairo Edwards-John had the first effort in the game with a speculative shot from distance which didn’t trouble the keeper. Then Goole’s first chance came in the 5th minute from a freekick which was floated into the box where Greasley’s header had to be tipped onto the bar by Bill Harrison. The resulting corner from Grant was whipped in and a glancing header from Greasley found the far corner of the goal to open the scoring.

A Toby Fura freekick found Sam Beaver unmarked in the box but his header went inches wide of the post. In the 21st minute the hosts should have doubled their lead when a cross into the area found Thompson unmarked, his half volley required a diving save from Harrison to prevent a goal. With five minutes to half time Will Norcross played a nice ball to Ryan Calver whose low shot smacked the post.

Goole went up the other end and Thompson went clear on goal only for Harrison to come out quick and smoother the ball. Minutes later and Edwards-John made a run to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Keenan King who slotted it past Wilton for the equaliser. Injury-time and Melton took the lead when a quick freekick caught the defence asleep and Edwards-John slipped the ball under the keeper.

Melton were on the front foot straight after the break and some great interplay saw King have a shot which brought about a great save from Wilton. A Fura corner found Beaver free in the box and his header shaved the crossbar. Fura himself had an effort from distance which went just over. The game became scrappy for a while with neither side taking control.

Edwards-John drove through the centre of the defence before some great defending prevented a certain goal. Aliyu had a go from distance for the hosts which went well wide of the post. Then in the 90th minute Norcross played a ball behind the Goole defence and King turned and hammered a shot into the far corner of the net to make it 3~1.

Six minutes into injury time and a mistake by the Melton defence saw Flanagan jumping onto the loose ball and floating in a shot which found the top corner to make it 3~2. Goole put up a spirited effort in a game that Melton dominated without really playing their best football. A typical cup game which sees Melton going into Mondays draw for the first time ever. Before the next round Town have to go to Ingles in the FA Vase next Saturday.

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