Lge (H)
Won 4-0
(H/T 4-0)
Moulton entertained Rushden and Higham knowing that a win would guarantee a place in the end of season play offs and there was good news pre- match when leading scorer Nat Ansu was declared fit and took his place in the starting 11. The home side took the initiative in the spring sunshine and both Lewis Isom and Derek Okoye had decent efforts in the first 10 minutes, and the visitors were under almost constant pressure. That pressure finally told after 15 minutes when Jonny Vallance launched a long kick forward a Rushden defender failed to deal with it and OKOYE finished well from just outside the 6 yard box, and within a minute of the restart Ansu saw a shot blocked as the Magpies continued tp have the upper hand. With 19 minutes gone Moulton increased their lead, Isom’s right wing corner was cleared back to him and when he returned the ball to the far post DAMIAN OSOIMOEJIOKHIAN had a free header and scored his second goal for the club. Chances kept coming for the home side and Osoimoejiokhian set Isom free down the left but his shot was blocked and then Okoye headed over after good work by Adam Dicks and Pierre N’Golo. The Lankies won a corner after 33 minutes which wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and Vallance was forced in to his first save of the game from close range. Dan Camacho was next to have a chance when Isom and N’Golo were involved but his shot was saved by the visiting keeper but minutes later it was 3-0, Isom and Osiomoejiokhian combIned on the left and when the cross went across the far side of the box N’Golo pulled it back to CAMACHO who applied the finishing touch. Moulton continued on top and Ansu was inches away from converting a Dan White cross but with 5 minutes of the half left DANTE GREY also notched his first goal for the club from 12 yards.
HALF TIME MOULTON 4 RUSHDEN AND HIGHAM 0
The start of the second half was delayed for 5 minutes when one of the linesman was injured and a replacement from the crowd took over. Grey had the first chance of the second half but headed over an Isom corner after 60 minutes but the game became scrappy and quite frankly a non-event with neither side threatening and with the game won manager Gary Petts gave two of the blossoming Under 18s Jude Goodacre and Evan Dye some minutes from the bench along with Dan Mortimer. There was a worry for the Magpies with 8 minutes left however when Keiran Ashman had to leave the field with an ankle injury and was replaced by Andy Hall, hopefully it’s not too serious and he is ok for Tuesdays trip to Ampthill Town.
FINAL SCORE MOULTON 4 RUSHDEN AND HIGHAM 0
TEAM Vallance, Dicks, (Dye 69) Grey, Osiomoejiokhian, N’Golo, White, (Mortimer 76) Ashman (Hall 82), Camacho, Isom, Okoye, Ansu (Goodacre 61)
Attendance 140
PRESSBOX MAN OF THE MATCH Dante Grey

Editor: Steve Alibone