Lge (A)
Lost 1-5
(H/T 1-4)
Moulton FC were at the impressive Nick Newbold Stadium to take on Coventry Utd in the penultimate away league fixture of the season.

Manager Gary Petts faced some difficult selection problems with Adam North, Francis Boateng and Jude Goodacre all un-available and Dan White missing after picking up an injury in training midweek, so Niall Shackleton made his debut in goal with Nathan Burrows dropping in as a central defender.

The Magpies were being cheered on ( admittingly from the confines of the hospitality unit) by a large “Senior Ultras” contingent on their first ever away day trip.

The home side with a strong wind at their backs dominated early proceedings and took the lead after 14 minutes, Moulton’s defence was exposed 2 on 1 and from the cross Ryan Harkin finished clinically and not long after it was 2-0 when Coventry were awarded a penalty which was converted by Cameron Dunn. The Magpies were struggling to get any kind of foothold in the game and with 28 minutes on the clock conceded again though somewhat unfortunately when a headed clearance by Damian Osoimoejiokhian struck Luke Stevens and rebounded straight to Harkin and he scored his second of the game.

Moulton were guilty of some sloppy passing and were also being dominated in all areas by a slick and robust Coventry side and it took half an hour before they forced their first corner. The home side with their tales up added a 4th goal on 37 minutes when a spectacular effort from well out by Charlie Faulkner flashed past Shackleton and into the net. As the half came towards the end the young keeper made two good stops to keep the score down and at the other end there was a bit of joy for the visitors, JUSTIN MENSAH cut in from the left and found the bottom corner to reduce the arrears.

HALF TIME COVENTRY UTD 4 MOULTON 1

With the elements in their favour and a couple of substitutions Moulton looked more like their old self and began to get a foothold in the game and pinned back Coventry for a large amount of the half and could have reduced the arrears with 66 minutes on the clock. Adam Dicks who was enjoying the freedom of the right-hand side of the pitch played a 1-2 with Mensah but saw his goal bound shot blocked, sadly another error 6 minutes later resulted in another penalty for the home side with Dunn picking the same side with the same result. Despite the setback the Magpies were still the more dominant side, and Burrows saw his header blocked late on, but it would have only been a consolation. The damage was done in the first half when a lacklustre performance by Moulton was severely punished by their hosts, which was disappointing to watch, and something that hopefully can be addressed by all concerned so that a promising season doesn’t end on a low ebb.

FINAL SCORE COVENTRY UTD 5 MOULTON 1

TEAM: Shackleton, Dicks, Osoimoejiokhian, Mensah, Burrows, Stevens, Falcini (Amaning 56),Hall ( Kelly 79), Long, Odley (Aluko 56) Isom