Lge ( Away
Lost 3-1
( H/T 2-1)
Our last away league game of the season saw us take the long trip down to Holmer Green in South Bucks. 4th game in 8 days on an Easter Weekend stretched the playing resources to the limit with a couple of our youngsters from the reserves drafted into the first team squad. The Magpies started the game on the front foot with Jamal & Luca combining to set up Derrick who’s shot just went over the bar from 18 yards out. After 8 minutes young Darren was booked for an innocuous looking challenge, a problem that would come back to haunt him later in the game. A lovely cross from the same player was met at the back post by Luca who volleyed just wide of the goal. 4 minutes later a cross from the right by Jamal somehow manged to avoid all in the 6 yard box as Moulton continued to dominate. Good work from Manny presented Derrick with the next chance only for the keeper to make a decent save to keep the scores level. Derrick was not to be denied though, a clean header from Andy to Jamal on the right, first time touch onto Derrick racing through the middle who lobbed the advancing keeper for a deserved 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. A further chance Luca, again put through by Jamal only for the keeper this time to save the attempted lob. With almost their first foray into our half Holmer won a corner on the right 30 minutes in. A good corner that we didn’t attack properly was headed in, unchallenged from 3 yards out, 1-1. There followed our Achilles heal in that we simply do not play the referee properly. Yes the referee was very picky but he was like that from the outset and constantly complaining and moaning over his decisions can only lead to one thing, yes a sin bin this time for Dylan after 43 minutes. Then our other problem in the minutes just before half time, conceding a goal. Another corner this time from the left not dealt with again, with the ball falling to the feet of their number 9 who duly despatched into the net this time from 4 yards out, 2-1. After totally dominating the game for 30 minutes, creating numerous chances, taking the lead we go in at half time 2-1 down and having to start the second half with 10 men!!
HALF TIME HOLMER GREEN 2 MOULTON 1
Despite being down to 10 men we started the second half in the same fashion as the first, controlling the ball well and dominating possession After 52 minutes Derrick through on goal, lobbed the advancing keeper only for this time the ball to drop just over the bar. A good save from Filipe kept the score to 1-2 just before Dylan’s return from the sin bin. We then proceed to concede from another set piece, this time a free kick from the left was crossed to the far post where their striker first miss-timed his header but still had enough time to poke the ball home for a 3-1 lead. Worse was to follow with a rash challenge from Darren saw him with a second yellow and leaving the field. 3-1 down, still 30 minutes to play and with 10 men on the field, what happens next. We continue to dominate work hard and although not creating the chances we had previously Filipe was never threatened. Even with another 10 minute sin binning after 72 minutes this time for Andy, we were the better team. Derrick, who had worked tirelessly up front collected his own header only for his cross shot to bring a fine one handed save from the keeper. The game petered out then as our tired legs on a hot sunny day in Holmer Green took its toll. The game finished with us losing 3-1 how? Not defending set pieces and not for the first time complaining to the referee on too many occasions. Sounds silly but we were the better team and should never have lost this game.
FULL TIME HOLMER GREEN 3 MOULTON1 Attendance 63

Editor - Mick Clipston