Lge (H)
Won 3-0
(H/T 1-0)
Moulton welcomed Irchester Utd to Brunting Rd in the last game of 2023 on the back of a 9 game winning run and made the early running with top scorer Nat Ansu having a shot saved after 10 minutes after good work by Cole Mason and Luca Iaciofano, and Iaciofano himself shot over a couple of minutes later. The Magpies were having plenty of joy down their right hand side and Mason got in again after 25 mins but Archie Elmore’s turn and shot was saved by the keeper’s legs, and soon after the visitors had their first attempt on the Magpies goal but Filipe Mederios saved comfortably. With 33 minutes on the clock the home side took the lead Mason and Dan White got Iaciofano free inside the box and he was brought down by an Irchester defender and ANSU despatched the penalty with aplomb. As the half went into stoppage time Mason, Iaciofano and White combined again but the cross was cut out by the visitors as Ansu and Archie Elmore were ready to pounce.
HALF TIME MOULTON 1 IRCHESTER UTD 0
The home side started the second half on top and again White released Iaciofano on the right and his cross saw Elmore have his shot blocked at the near post and not long after Irchester won a free kick on the edge of the box but it came to nothing and they offered very little other than that going forward. Moulton continued to dominate and doubled the lead after 64 minutes, Andy Hall nicked the ball of a visiting player before setting ANSU free down the middle and he finished with customary ease for his 23rd goal of the season. The last quarter of the game was completely dominated by the Magpies and Iaciofano had a shot saved at the near post and Hall shot just over from distance. With the game well into added time the home side completed a routine win with a third goal, Ansu won the ball in midfield and headed goal wards showing blistering pace and with the crowd expecting a hat-trick attempt he un-selfishly pulled the ball back for HALL to tap in from 8 yards.
FINAL SCORE MOULTON 3 IRCHESTER UTD 0
TEAM. Mederios, Mason, Jackson, Melling (F.Boateng 78) Machakaire (O’Neill 80), A Mensah (Assante 66), White, Hall, Ansu, Elmore (Dickins 75) Iaciofano SUB not used Adams

Editor: Steve Allibone