Cup (H)
Won 4-3 on penalties (F/T 3-3)
(H/T 0-0)
Moulton were back in Cup action again at the weekend when they welcomed Boston Town to Brunting Road in the Sports Ground Development UCL Cup. It was the battle of the United Counties League Premier Division North v Premier Division South, with Boston Town being top of Premier Division North. With a number of players injured, unavailable or rested, we welcomed Josh Melling out of retirement back to Brunting Road. Other notable absentees were both the Manager and Assistant Manager, with Brett Solkhorn taking on the touchline duties.

The first notable Moulton chance on goal was by Matty Long after 17 mins when his chip eluded the Boston keeper but came back off the bar and was cleared by the Boston defender. Both Damien Osiomiojkhian and Matty Long had further advances into the Boston area but were unable to find any of their team mates, although on 26 mins a ball into the area found Lewis Isom who blasted over. Boston did have their own chances on goal but Adam North was their with safe hands. With 2 mins remaining of the first half Boston had their best chance on goal from a corner, their forward rose at the back post and headed down towards goal, but North dived down low to his right post to push the ball away to safety.

H/T 0-0

With the rain starting to come down just as the second half commenced, it took just 4 mins for Boston to take the lead through Matt Cotton. Moulton could have levelled 2 mins later when a speculative ball into the Boston area was taken by the Boston Keeper just under his crossbar. However, with 62 mins on the clock Moulton equalised through Ed Odley. Lewis Isom’s low cross from the left edge of the penalty found the in running Odley, who slotted home past the keeper from 6 yards out. After a penetrating run by Long into the Boston half, they gave away a free-kick on the right, just out side the penalty area on 67 mins. The resulting shot into the area was deflected by Isom (the jury is still out on whether he touched it, or whether it was an OG) up into the air, the resultant spin looping it over the keeper to make it 2-1 to Moulton. From the kick-off, Moulton switched off and it was the Boston striker, Matt Cotton on hand to get his second and level the score a minute later. Although Moulton had a few more chances on goal, so did Boston and with the game going into injury time it looked like it was going to be the ‘dreaded’ penalties. However, Boston had other ideas. With 3 mins of injury time played, a cross from the left into the Moulton penalty area was adjudged by the referee to have been handled by a Moulton player, and he pointed to the spot. Up strode Matt Cotton to get his hat-trick, North going to his left, Cotton placing the ball to Adam’s right. It looked to all as though Moulton were again exiting another cup. But how wrong can you be. With 96 mins on the clock, Andy Hall crossed from out on the left hand side towards Isom just inside the penalty area on the right. His first time flick into the area saw the keeper come out to the edge of the goal area and although punching the ball, appeared to take out Matty Long in the process. The referee was right on the spot and immediately blew his whistle for a penalty. Up stepped Nathan Amaning to slot home down the centre of the goal, the keeper going to his right, to level the scores. A minute later the referee brought proceedings to a close and onto the penalty shoot-out. Events however did not stop there as the Boston Manager, obviously not too happy with the penalty decision, confronted the referee earning himself a red card and was dispatched from the pitch prior to the decision on who would be taking the Boston penalties.

F/T 3-3

Moulton were first to take the penalties:
Amaning 1-0
Boston saved by Adam North 1-0
Hall 2-0
Boston 2-1
Isom saved by Boston Keeper 2-1
Boston scored 2-2
Steers 3-2
Boston scored 3-3
Jarrold 4-3
Boston missed over the bar.

Moulton won 4-3 on penalties.

Team: North, Dicks, Osiomiojkhian, Jarrold, Melling, Mensah (Goodacre 78), Hall, Long, Okoye (Amaning 54), Isom, Odley (Steers 63)

Subs not used: Machakaire, Stevens