Playoff Semi-Final (H)
Won 3-2
(H/T 2-0)
Moulton FC entertained Irchester Utd in the Spartan South Midlands Play-Off Semi Final and welcomed back Nat Ansu after a 4 game injury lay off but were without Damian Osoimoejiokhian who was ill and Jude Goodacre deputised. The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges but with 7 minutes on the clock Moulton took the lead when a long clearance by Jonny Vallance was flicked on by Lewis Isom and ANSU instinctively found the corner of the net from 30 yards. Despite the goal Irchester continued to dominate proceedings and twice Vallance produced saves to keep his team in front, but eventually the Magpies got a foothold in the game and Ansu freed Pierre N’Golo on the right but he was tackled as he was about to pull the trigger. Ansu and Dan White exchanged passes and when the cross came in to the back post Isom’s volley was saved by the Romans keeper, and then N’Golo was just wide with a snapshot as the home side began to dominate. That domination paid dividends after 41 minutes when N’Golo crossed to the back post ISOM met it sweetly on the half volley and found the bottom corner from just inside the box.
HALF TIME MOULTON 2 IRCHESTER 0
The second half started just as the first with Irchester having plenty of ball but with little end product and some resolute defending by Dante Grey and Josh Melling keeping them at bay. A great 1-2 between Isom and Goodacre on the left sent the youngster away but his cross to the free Ansu was blocked by a defender. With 65 minutes gone Keiran Ashman replaced Hugo Neve and his first contribution was to send Ansu clear but the keeper blocked his attempt and 5 mins later Ansu got away again but for a second time couldn’t beat the advancing keeper, and that had a fatal effect when straight away Irchester went down the other end and pulled a goal back. NATHAN BURROWS replaced Ansu with 15 minutes left and within 10 minutes he had increased Moulton’s lead with a solo effort after being put clear. Matty Long replaced N’Golo and it now seemed just a matter of seeing the game out but that wasn’t the case, Dan White was adjudged to have deliberately handled in the box and was given a second yellow card with the visitors scoring from the spot with a minute of normal time left. Irchester pushing for an equaliser were obviously leaving gaps at the back and Burrows had a golden chance to kill the game off but missed the target following a cross by Isom, and then the Romans were reduced to 10 men with a sin bin offence for dissent. Eventually after what seemed like an age the referee finally blew for full time and send the Magpies through to the final.
FINAL SCORE MOULTON 3 IRCHESTER 2
TEAM Vallance, Dicks, Goodacre, Grey, Melling, Neve (Ashman 65), N’Golo,( Long 75)Hall, Ansu (Burrows 75) White, Isom.
SUBS not used North, Camacho
PRESSBOX MAN OF THE MATCH. Jonny Vallance (Jonny is sponsored by R.J FARMER Electrical )