Corby advised us in advance that we would be playing on grass but not main pitch but in the cage. The pitch was very very wet and it was not a day for pretty possession football. However both teams got on with it and it made for an intriguing cup tie.
After 4 minutes it was end to end stuff with Corby looking lively and Millie for Moulton made @ strong run down the right only to overrun it and the ball ran to the keeper. After 6 minutes Moulton won a throw in on the right halfway line, Georgie took it and played down the line. The ball came back to her and she just put her laces through the ball in the direction of Corby’s goal. The ball bounced once and took off from a firmer spot and bounced high over the keeper and into the top corner of the net for 1-0 Moulton.
After 10 minutes Corby attacked down the right and there looked little danger as the cross came over but a weak clearance found Corby 25 striding onto the ball and she hit it firm and true into Moulton’s goal for 1-1.
After 17 minutes Georgie was involved down the right and as the ball came over Kim controlled it and shot first time but high over the bar. On 25 mins Sophie Taylor chased the ball down the right of the Corby penalty area, the seemed no danger but she shrugged off the defender and cut in towards goal and from an incredibly tight angle smashed her shot hard and high into the near side top corner for 2-1 Moulton.
On 31 mins Moulton brought on their two subs, Nashy and Reedy to give Leah and Chelsee, who had a super 30 mins of play, a breather prior to the second half.
On 38 mins a Corby attack down their left saw 25 on her own on the corner of the box, she advanced and hit a firm shot which Harriet dived to parry to her left only for Corby 18 to steam in and hit into an empty net for 2-2.
Half time 2-2 with all to play for in 2nd half.
After 3 mins of second half Corby 18 broke down their left and cut in. She hit a fierce shot but Harriet got down to save it and held it. Then 53 mins had gone when Corby 18 broke again and hit a shot come cross hard and high, just clearing the far post. On 60 mins Corby attacked through the middle but Harriet rushed out and dived at the player’s feet to block the shot, she then pounced on the ball to shut out the danger. She nearly spoilt this good work by hitting a weak goalkick straight to a Corby forward. She shot first time hard and high and the ball appeared destined for the top corner but Harriet had other ideas. She sprung into action and leapt high to Parry the shot away for an amazing save (in the words of Reedy) and the ball went out for a corner. Soon after Corby won a free kick some 28 yards from goal, Moulton used their normal tactics of players on the line to help their keeper. The direct shot from the kick was heading into the top corner before Hayley got her head to the ball to clear it. The ferocity of the shot knocked her backwards into the net but she is made of sterner stuff and was up to defend the next attack.
Moulton had a few attacks with Sophie T ploughing a lone furrow up front for Moulton . There were 4 minutes left when the gremlins that appear to be affecting Moulton, struck again. A Corby player had a speculative shot from distance. The ball took a crazy bounce when Harriet appeared to have it covered, it bounced high above her, hitting the underside of the bar and post and came down on the line where Harriet fell on it ready to clear the danger. Then out of the blue the linesman appeared to tell the referee that the ball had fully crossed the line even though he was on the 18 yard line when the incidence happened. Just when we thought we had got through to penalties our hopes were squashed and despite pushing for an equaliser it was to no avail and good luck to Corby in the semi final.
Player of the match for Moulton was Chelsee closely followed by Harriet. A spirited effort by the Moulton players but it just wasn’t to be.