Moulton set up with a good shape and for the first 12 minutes they gave as good as they got with most activity in midfield.
Then a promising Moulton attack saw Chloe wriggle free and get a shot away which had the keeper scurrying across her line with the ball just going round the far post. Almost 30 minutes gone and Chloe and Wiki impressed going forward with the whole defence playing superbly. A good even contest. Then on 35 minutes just outside the box a clumsy challenge saw the Bugbrooke player go down and the referee inexplicably awarded Bugbrooke a penalty. The forward rolled it gently into the corner for 1-0 Bugbrooke. Moulton could have folded at this decision but it seemed to steel them even more to compete. Then just before half time a neat move from Bugbrooke with a few 1,2s ended with a wild shot way over the bar. I was on my way for a HT drink when Moulton pushed forward for one attack before the break. Chloe had the ball, she held off 2 or 3 challenges and then hit a hard and low shot at Bugbrooke's goal, The keeper got a hand to it but pushed it into the side netting for 1-1 at half time. Reward for a spirited performance from Moulton. As usual Moulton changed keepers at HT with Reedy donning a red shirt as a possible substitute as there were a few serious injuries to the threadbare Moulton squad. Harriet took over between the sticks.
After 65 minutes Bugbrooke broke and had a one on one with Harriet. She pushed it up in the air and as the ball fell a Bugbrooke player made contact but hit the ball against the post. Two minutes later another Bugbrooke break saw another one on one. Harriet again stood tall and parried away the shot. Moulton responded immediately with a break down the right by Wiki, her cross eluded Chloe but after a few deflections found Reedy who got a shot away that the keeper palmed into the air, then against her crossbar and away for a corner.
From the resultant corner the ball came over hard and low and missed everyone apart from Chloe who somehow got a shot away that found its way into the corner for 2-1 Moulton. The goal was probably a bit too early as Bugbrooke sprung to life and attacked the Moulton goal with new determination. Moulton needed to weather the storm. 70 minites had passed when a good Bugbrooke move down the right saw a pinpoint cross find the head of a Bugbrooke forward who powered her header past Harriet, 2-2. Just 5 minutes later and another break down the right saw a good cross find Bugbrooke's number 11 who took her time before hammering in for 3-2.
Just when it appeared that Moulton's bravery would go unrewarded they won a corner on the right, Another hard low cross evaded almost everyone before Hayley got a touch which saw the ball rebound back off the post to, guess who?, yes, Reedy who smashed her shot into the net for 3-3 with just a couple of minutes left.
Instead of settling for the point, Moulton pressed forward through Chloe and Wiki although it came to nothing. Referee blew his whistle and Moulton had achieved a supeb result with a 3-3 draw against the undefeated league leaders. What a performance from all the Moulton players especially new signing Hayley who took over at centre back with Jade in Bali on honeymoon. Cat and Callie were immense, Ant unfortunately picked up an early hamstring injury so Charlotte, no 10, took over the holding midfield role and after a shaky first 5 minutes, she was superb. Someone ensure we get the shirt back from her! Leah and Chelsee worked their socks off and Chelsee ran herself into the ground. Princess, back from Uni, made a useful addition to stretch the Bugbrooke defence with her running. Then we have Wiki and Chloe who were both superb with their workrate and energy to push Moulton forward. Nashy seemed to get stronger as the match went on when others were wilting. Shannon who was our anchor in midfield must have ended black and blue she was involved in so many bruising challenges, well done. Then what can we say about the two keepers. Reedy only beaten by a penalty, Harriet making her usual one on one saves a point blank range and then Reedy doing what she did last season and scoring a great goal late on to earn Moulton a well deserved point. Well done to everyone involved, what an exciting encounter this was to spectate.
Moulton Player of The Match was Chloe Dicks who terrorised Bugbrooke’s central defenders all game. Closely followed by Hayley playing her first game for Moulton.