We visited Crick for a league fixture on an overcast misty, damp afternoon. The pitch was playable after recent heavy rains but was bobbly and very soft underfoot.
Moulton arrived with 12 players including both goalkeepers, although Reedy very occasionally has been asked to fill in up top. All credit to the ones who turned out and several players were playing in unfamiliar positions.
Moulton started brightly and soon forced a corner after Chloe made a good run. Sophie T Put over a super corner which Antonella got her head to, but the ball came off Millie for a goal kick. After 18 minutes of even play Chloe and Millie looked lively. In midfield the two Sophie’s were working very hard to gain some dominance in the centre of the pitch. Crick then won a corner which broke and a shot from outside the box went wide. For a makeshift team, the Moulton ladies were playing some super stuff and making this an enjoyable match to watch. After 20 mins Antonella put Chloe away but her left footed shot just went wide.
Reedy came on as a sub to give Chelsee a rest. What a masterstroke! After 30 mins a good Moulton move saw the ball break to Reedy some 30 yards out, without hesitation she took one touch and blasted an unstoppable shot high over the Crick keeper for 1-0 Moulton.
On 37 minutes Crick were awarded a free kick some 28 yards out. Number 10 took it and cleared a packed goalmouth to beat everyone high into the net for 1-1. Just before ht Sophie T made a great run down the left until she was fouled just outside the left corner of Crick’s box.Sophie took the free kick and curled a super effort which just cleared the bar at Steph far post. HT 1-1.
An even start to the first period of the 2nd half but on 65 mins Crick broke away down the left and crossed into the centre and somehow there were two players spare in the box, the shot came in and Hattie, Moulton’s keeper, saved at point blank range and dived on the loose ball to keep it at one all. Moulton attacked and won another free kick on the left. Sophie T took it and another great cross on 68 mins saw Moulton players fail to attack the ball at the far post. On 71 mins Moulton won a corner on the right. Leah came up from left back to take an inswinging corner. There was a massive scramble in Crick’s goalmouth but the Moulton forwards couldn’t put any pace on their efforts and the ball was eventually saved on the line by the keeper. Up the other end and on 72 mins a snapshot from nowhere by a Crick player was palmed to safety by Harriet for a corner. From the corner there was a huge melee in the Moulton goalmouth and somehow eventually the ball was cleared. Then on 83 mins a break down the left side by Crick saw a fierce shot well saved by Hattie but the ball broke and was swept in by a Crick attacker for 2-1 Crick?
For the final 5 mins Moulton tried everything to get back level but Crick defenders kicked the ball anywhere off the pitch to protect their slender lead. Final result 2-1 to Crick.
Normally I would be disappointed with a loss but the 12 players who bothered to turn out played their hearts out and should all be very proud of their performances. All worthy of POM but looking like a close thing between Sophie Gates and Harriet, both were excellent.
Next up we have a trip to Corby in the NTFA Cup quarter final. One of our biggest games of the season so far.