Lge (H)
Lost 1-2
(H/T 0-1)
Moulton welcomed local rivals ON Chenecks to Brunting Rd in the opening game of the season. The Magpies were without regular no 1 Adam North with Niall Shackleton deputising, included 3 new faces in the 16 and had Dante Grey back after a year on the side lines due to injury.

The home side made the running in front of a record home crowd of 392 and when Nat Ansu was fouled just outside the box Lewis Isom struck a decent free kick but Chens keeper Brad Lashley saved at the second attempt. A minute later Tyson Aluko saw a shot from 25 yards deflected over, but against the run of play the visitors took the lead through Ijah Augustine. Despite being behind the Magpies continued to dominate and some decent approach play forced a succession of corners but there was no cutting edge in the final 3rd. At the other end Lewis Irwin had a header go just wide but that was the only other chance created by the visitors in the half.

HALF TIME - MOULTON 0 ON CHENECKS 1

Moulton started the half just as the first and dominated early proceedings, Damian Osoimoejiokhian got clear on the left and his cross should have been converted by Isom but the header was weak, however a minute later the home side deservedly drew level. LUKE STEVENS strode forward from the halfway line and with no pressure on the ball struck an absolute worldie into the top corner from 30 yards out with Lashley rooted to his line. Sadly, the parity only lasted for 8 minutes, Yamal Yusuf ironically a product of the Magpies U18s held off Grey before hitting a near post shot that squirmed under Shackleton into the net. Moulton continued to have more of the ball but as in the first half struggled to create any clear-cut chances although sub Lachi Codrington did cut inside but his shot was straight at Lashley. The visitors to their credit defended well and one brilliant interception denied Nathan Burrows a virtual tap in near the end, but the Magpies will rue the fact that so much domination didn’t have anywhere near as much end product as it should have.

The most remarkable statistic of the night however was that despite their being only 2 poor tackles in the game the teams ended up drawing 5-5 on bookings, a pedantic display by the match referee no doubt not helped by the now customary Assessor in the crowd watching his every move. This, in my opinion putting the referee under so much pressure by advising him beforehand that he is being observed is not helping but rather hindering him doing his job, something I for one think needs to change.

FINAL SCORE - MOULTON 1 ON CHENECKS 2

TEAM Shackleton, Dicks, Osoimoejiokhian, Stevens, Grey (Boateng 78), Isom, Aluko (Pardoe 80), White, Mensah ( Falcini 66), Ansu (Burrows 63), Bailey (Codrington 63).

Editor - Steve Alibone