Lge (H)
Won 2-1
H/T 2-0
Fresh from Saturdays 4-0 win over promotion rivals Ampthill Town, league leaders Irchester Utd were at Brunting Rd looking for revenge after being beaten 4-2 by the Magpies at Alfred St in October. Moulton welcomed new signing Dante Grey who joined this week from Buckingham FC and he took his place in the starting line-up replacing the injured Francis Boateng. Neither side really threatened early on although the home side had the better of the early exchanges, but that changed on 11 minutes. Damian Osoimoejiokhian released Lewis Isom down the left and his pinpoint cross was converted by LUCA IACIOFANO for his 17th goal of the season and within 6 minutes it was 2-0, Dan White headed on, Iaciofano hit a high cross field pass to ISOM who killed it in an instant and hit a screamer past Daniel Willett in the Irchester goal. Isom and Nat Ansu combined not long after but the Magpies top scorer just lost a foot race with Willett as he bore down on goal. The visitors should have pulled a goal back with 28 minutes gone when a cross from the right was met by an onrushing attacker but his effort was brilliantly saved at point blank range by Jonny Vallance in the home goal. As the half ended the Romans had 2 long range efforts but Moulton were well worth their lead.
HALF TIME MOULTON 2 IRCHESTER UTD 0
Moulton’s 2 wide players Isom ond Iaciofano were causing the visitors quite a few problems and when they combined early in the second half Willett was called into action again foiling Iaciofano with his legs, and soon after Iaciofano went even closer to increasing the home sides lead. Ansu held the ball up and squared to him on the edge of the box but his fierce shot cannoned back off a post. Irchester felt aggrieved that some decisions were not going their way and this boiled over in the 62nd minute when a member of their coaching staff was shown a red card by the referee for foul and abusive language however within 3 minutes they pulled a goal back in somewhat fortunate circumstances. A tame effort was accidently deflect by Justin Mensah, Vallance saved the follow up shot but was helpless to stop the next effort from Kobi Bivens and he reduced the arrears despite appeals for offside. The game remained niggly and one visiting defender saw a yellow card for an agricultural challenge on Ansu. The Magpies continued to press and Isom tested Willett again from long range, Andy Hall couldn’t get any purchase in a left foot shot and Matty Long had a shot blocked but the home side held on despite a late header going over from the visitors.
FINAL SCORE MOULTON 2 IRCHESTER UTD 1
TEAM Vallance, Dicks, Melling, Grey, Osoiomoejiokhian, Mensah, (Ashman 73) Iaciofano, (Long 73) Hall, Ansu, White, Isom SUBS not used Okoye, Mortimer, N’Golo

Press box Man of the Match Justin Mensah

Editor - Steve Allibone