Cup (A)
Won 1-0
(H/T 1-0)
Moulton were on the road again for the Semi Final of the UCL KO Cup visiting Gresley Rovers from the Premier North Division with both sides having similar records in their respective leagues.

In a proper old-style football ground hemmed in by terraced houses the Magpies kicking up a slight slope in the first half were soon under the cosh as the home side dominated and Francis Boateng picked up an early yellow card, and from the resultant free kick Adam North in the visitor’s goal smothered the shot low down. Despite being in the ascendancy, the Moatmen failed to capitalise and were dealt a sucker punch after 21 minutes, Justin Mensah won a challenge in midfield and the ball broke to Lewis Isom and a quick pass put NAT ANSU through, he outsprinted a defender before slotting past keeper Bradley Catlow and into the far corner to put the Magpies in front with his 100th goal for the club.

Gresley responded immediately and following a long throw Hadyn Brown turned sharply in the box, but his rising shot was brilliantly tipped over by North. A decent move down the Moulton left eventually saw Ansu turn a defender in the box but his goal bound shot was blocked by Josh Watson and then at the other end Brown headed a far post cross wide of the target.

With 5 minutes of the half left only a good piece of defending again by Watson saved his side from going 2 behind, Ansu got away again down the middle and rounded the on rushing Catlow, but he was driven slightly wide and the big defender got in a last-ditch challenge.

HALF TIME GRESLEY ROVERS 0 MOULTON 1

The second half started as the first had finished with Gresley having most of the ball and the Magpies looking dangerous on the counter and on one such occasion Ansu forced a corner and from the kick the ball pinged around in the home penalty area with no one in Black and White able to get a telling touch and soon after Terry Falcini found some space inside the box but his weak shot didn’t trouble Catlow.

Moulton were forced into some injury substitutions with Mensah, Ansu and sadly Matty Long with what looked like a serious knee injury being replaced by Ed Odley, Tyson Aluko and Louis Kelly.

With the home side still huffing and puffing Moulton should have put the game to bed with 12 minutes left, Odley got in down the side of the home defence and his cross to the back post was on a plate for Falcini but his side foot volley flew just over the bar. Gresley staged a last flurry and one cross shot flew across the Magpies box and then right at the death North made a routine save and as he cleared the referee blew for time much to the delight of the healthy travelling support and that saw Moulton through to the final where they meet Nuneaton Town at Stamford on May 9th.

Remarkably the clubs 6th final in 4 seasons.

FINAL SCORE GRESLEY ROVERS 0 MOULTON 1

TEAM. North, Dicks, Machakaire, Mensah ( Odley 68), Stevens, Boateng, Long (Aluko 80), Falcini (Goodacre 90 +6) Ansu ( Kelly 72), White, Isom. Unused sub Amaning

Editor - Steve Alibone