Lge (A)
Won 4-2
(H/T 1-1)
Moulton Fc’s quest to finish third in the Spartan South Mids League Division 1 took them to Raunds Town in a must win game. The Magpies started off on the right foot and Derek Okoye shot wide after good work by Damian Osiomoejiokhian but the home side replied and Jonny Vallance in the Moulton goal was forced into a smart save from a deflected shot , and after 16 minutes the Shopmates took a surprise lead when a corner was only half cleared and it was returned with interest from just outside the box. Moulton responded and Matty Long put a cross in and with the home keeper stranded neither Okoye or indeed Osiomoejokhian could profit, and then a corner from the same player was cleared off the line. Long was causing real problems and one such run he was brought down inside the box and ANDY HALL stepped up to equalise from the spot and straight from the kick-off Long again got away on the right but couldn’t find the crucial pass and the chance was lost. Moulton reverted to a back 4 after 35 minutes and looked more solid and Lewis Isom shot just over and just before the break Hall set up Adam Dicks but he scooped his effort over from close range.
HALF TIME RAUNDS TOWN 1 MOULTON 1.
Justin Mensah replaced Evan Dye at Half Time with Dicks reverting to his normal right back role but before the half time tea was drunk Raunds re-took the lead. The Magpies were guilty of some sloppy play and poor passing and the home side broke in the inside right channel two on two and scored with ease, however within 6 minutes the visitors drew level again when another corner from Long was only half cleared HALL pounced and found the net from just inside the box for his second of the game. Hall could well have had a hat-trick soon after when he beat 2 players before shooting just wide. With 67 minutes on the clock Pierre N’Golo replaced Okoye and was soon involved with fellow sub Mensah and Isom to set up Hall again but he shot just over. Moulton were huffing and puffing but not creating anything clear cut until a bit of individual magic broke the deadlock, N’GOLO picked the ball up wide on the right before cutting inside and firing a left foot shot into the bottom corner with 2 minutes of normal time left. Raunds responded and forced a corner but from it the Magpies sealed the points when the ball was cleared to the half way line Long helped it on and N’GOLO raced clear and lobbed the advancing keeper from 20 yards.
FINAL SCORE RAUNDS TOWN 2 MOULTON 4
TEAM. Vallance, Dicks, Dye, (Mensah 46) Grey, Melling, Osiomoejiokhian, White, Hall, Isom, Okoye ( N’Golo 67),Isom
SUBS NOT USED Mortimer, Ashman
PRESS BOX MAN OF THE MATCH Matty Long

Editor - Steve Alibone