Lge Cup
Won 2-1
(H/T 0-1)
Moulton started their defence of the UCL KO Cup with a home tie against local rivals Sileby Rangers and included Luke Stevens in the starting line-up with Ellis Andrews replacing Damian Osoimoiejokhian at left back.

The Magpies could have taken the lead in the first minute when Stevens flicked on a long throw from Andrews, but Terry Falcini hit the angle of post and bar from 8 yards out.

The home side made the early running and created 2 decent chances firstly when Tyson Aluko saw his cross from the left partially cleared to Lewis Isom who skied his effort from just inside the box and then Falcini crossed again from the left, but Isom again couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

Slightly against the run of play the visitors took the lead in the 12th minute, Dan Lyons ran on to a through ball with the Moulton defence appealing for offside, and despite valiant efforts by Adam North and Adam Dicks, the ball eventually found the net.

The Magpies responded immediately and Falcini broke free down the middle and deep into the Sileby box and was clearly pushed in the back by Will Ronald, but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

Moulton were dealt a blow after 22 minutes when in-form striker Mo Khan felt a pull in his thigh and was replaced by Justin Mensah. The remainder of the half saw the home side have more of the game, but Sileby worked hard off the ball to limit any chances, and the half petered out with neither team threatening.

HALF TIME MOULTON 0 SILEBY RANGERS 1

The second half started as if the first hadn’t finished with both sides cancelling each other out with the visitors still working hard off the ball to stop the Magpies creating any worthwhile chances and at the other end North had little to do in the home goal, however the tide seemed to change with 20 minutes left when Toby Sainsbury replaced Falcini.

Dicks was fouled out on the right-hand side by Romeo Ingram and when Isom floated in the free kick Dan White was bundled over in the area as he was about to connect with the cross and KOBI BIVENS stepped up to beat keeper John Meadows from the spot with 12 minutes left.

This was the catalyst for the Magpies to press on and try and win the game and Sainsbury in particular was giving the visiting defence a testing time with his energy and direct running, and he was involved with Joel Machakaire to set up Lewis Fisher but Meadows saved. However with 3 minutes remaining on the clock the second goal arrived.

Stevens retrieved a deep corner on the left-hand touchline, his ball back into the box eventually found Isom via Bivens on the opposite side of the pitch and when the cross came in FISHER rose the highest and powered a header in at the far post.

With Sileby pressing there was one more chance as the game entered injury time, Bivens took a quick throw on the half -way line putting Machakaire in the clear, sadly he was caught by a visiting defender, and his shot was deflected for a corner.

A workman like performance that sees us into the next round when we have a home tie against Daventry Town on Saturday 24th October.

FINAL SCORE MOULTON 2 SILEBY RANGERS 1

TEAM North, Dicks, Andrews (Machakaire 59), Stevens, Grey, White, Falcini (Sainsbury 72), Aluko (Fisher 59), Khan (Mensah 25), Bivens, Isom

Editor - Steve Alibone