LBG Strollers came into this game on the back of 2 defeats and were looking to get back to winning ways against a Melville side who recorded their first win of the season in their previous game.
The game started off in terrible conditions with a driving wind and torrential rain falling and this massively affected the way both sides were playing, their was very little football on show in the early stages. The first noteworthy incident came when Annand was clipped and landed heavily and unfortunately for the player and for the Strollers had to be taken to hospital with a potentially serious shoulder injury.
Apart from that there were very few chances in the first half. The Melville striker was desperately unlucky to see his audacious 40 yard volley smack off the top of the crossbar with Allan beaten. Strollers only chance fell to Burden who fired wide from 18 yards after Scott layed it off to him.
The Strollers went into the break 1 down when a goalmouth scramble let to the Melville player hitting a shot which flashed across goal and hit the unlucky Carson before trickling past Allan for an own goal.
Strollers manager Campbell told the players to start trying to play football in the 2nd half, however they were hit with a blow early in the 2nd half when Melville extended their lead.
Strollers came back strongly and got a very debatable goal back to get them back in the game. Burden's corner was flicked home via the hand of Davie Scott, however the ref allowed the goal to stand.
It looked like this would be a foothold back into the game for the Strollers but they soon found themselves 2 goals behind again, nice footwork in the box by the Melville midfielder before drilling home with the left foot.
Strollers almost pulled one back straight away, Burdens free-kick coming back off the post before Clement somehow missed the follow up This was Burden;s last contribution as he was replaced by Langstaff with Langstaff going wide left and Clement moving upfront. Clement would soon make amends for this miss though by firing home a ten minute hat-trick.
The first of Clements hat-trick came when Davie Scott was pushed in the box, Clement stepped up and convincingly fired home.
Moments later Davie Scott fired a tremendous cross over and Thomson leapt highest to nod back across goal for Clement to score a real poachers goal.
Clement then completed his hat-trick with another penalty after a great run from defence from Tomarelli saw him sent sprawiling in the box. Clement stepped up again and gave the keeper no chance with another fine spot-kick.
Langstaff had 2 terrific chances to seal the win but fired over from one and then straight at the keeper from another after the move of the match involving Thomson and McPherson, McPhersons inch perfect ball was met by Langstaff but the keeper stood his ground well.
A spirited come back from the Strollers sees them in 4th position in the league with 9 points from a possible 15.
