Ex-Boston Man Trains With City

Lincs. UK Banner Exchange

16th July 2006

Former Boston United midfielder Steve Melton is currently training with Lincoln City FC, as he attempts to secure a contract with a new club.

26-year-old Melton was released by Boston United at the end of last season after a troublesome season that saw him make just three appearances for The Pilgrims. Instead, Melton spent several months on loan at Conference club Tamworth, where he made ten appearances.

Melton is a Lincoln born midfielder, who is vastly experienced having played for Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Brighton, Hull City and Boston United. He wore Lincoln City's red and white stripes for the first time on Friday evening, when he was a 66th minute substitute during Lincoln City's 3-2 victory over Lincoln United.

The man-of-the-match was Imps' striker Gary Birch, who scored twice. Birch, like Melton, currently has a question mark over his future although he does have a contract offer from Lincoln City. So far, Birch is yet to accept this offer as it does not met his demands.

Birch scored the first of his two goals after just five minutes of play, when he volleyed past Barford in the United goal. City doubled their lead just sixty seconds later through Lee Frecklington.

Jason Minett, who was one of several former City players in the United squad, reduced the deficit in the 13th minute. Minett's goal was slightly fortunate because it derived from a failed penalty after Paul Mayo had been penalised. Minett took the penalty but Imps' goalkeeper Simon Rayner made a brilliant save, only to see Minett net the rebound. The scores stayed the same until Birch scored his second of the match in the 60th minute.

United were given fresh hope of gaining a draw in the 76th minute when Stuart Reddington, who once turned down a transfer to Lincoln City, managed to poke the ball into the net.

Unfortunately, the match was slightly overshadowed by what looked like a serious injury to former Imps' trainee Kieran O'Boyle, who now plays for United.

Lincoln City: Simon Rayner (Ayden Duffy 66), Lee Beevers (Colin Cryan 60), Paul Mayo, Scott Kerr (Andy Toyne 66), Paul Morgan, Adie Moses (Luke Foster 66), Lee Frecklington (Steve Melton 66), Gary Birch (Leon Mettam 73), Jamie Forrester, Danny Bacon (Ollie Ryan 66), Jamie Sherlock (Shane Clarke 77)

Lincoln United: Barford, McGann, Wilkins, Brown, Reddington, Dixon, Huntley, Hawley, D. Frecklington, Walters, O’Boyle, Gilbert, McDaid, Minett, Symonds, Atkinson, S.Wilkinson, Carchedi, Cann, Wilcockson, Gray.