Reserve Premier Division Knock Out Cup

Referees: Steve Wedgwood, Jim Tate, Tony Whitestone (Referee), James Campbell

Corby Madisons Res v Moulton Res

Corby Madisons FC:   Grier, Warren, Loughran, Malone, Duncan, MacBlain,    W Thomson, MacLoughlan, L Thomson, and Purcell.
Subs   Docherty, Walker, Smith, Turbot, McKay.
Manager:   Dave Oakley.

Moulton FC:   M Collins, Osborne, Tyrell, McDonald, Earl, Pallett, Doran, J Collins, Pacey, Doble, Cadd.
Subs: Grey, Hambly, Caswell.
Manager:   Dave Pacey    Physio:   Carl Hambly.

Officials: Referee: Tony Whitestone. Assistants: Steve Wedgwood, James Campbell. 4^th Official: Jim Tate.

On a freezing night, Lee Thomson warmed the Madisons crowd with a hat-trick to kill off Moulton in extra-time.

The game started well with both teams making some good runs early on, in the 12^th minute Wayne McDonald of Moulton played a long through ball to Chris Doran who made a good run and slotted past the outstretched keeper to make it 1-0.

The first half continued with both teams having a fair share of the play, in the 36^th minute Corby having been playing the long ball option had a decent chance when the long ball from Willie Thomson looked to be dropping straight into the path of the fast advancing Ciaran Warren on the edge of the box, but the Moulton keeper, Max Collins Just got to it. Just before half time Doran shot just wide for Moulton after poor defending from Madisons, this was followed by a great one two between Willie Thompson and Walker of Madisons before a pass to Lee Thomson was put into the side netting from an acute angle.

On the stroke of half time two long range efforts at either end, the first for Corby’s L Thomson and the second from Mouton’s Mc Donald were both put just wide.

Half time – Corby Madisons 0 v 1 Moulton

The early exchanges in the second half were just as entertaining as in the first, with both teams having an even share of the play, in the 57^th minute W Thomson played an inch perfect pass to L Thomson but the attempted shot was just dealt with by the big Moulton Skipper, Nick Earl. Moulton themselves had some decent runs with Colm Pacey getting in on the action, but just failing to score. As the half went on Madisons had more and more of the ball as they pressed for the equaliser and several dramatic saves from Collins kept Moulton in the lead. Several Moulton players were getting cramp and injuries making it very difficult for them to get back into it. With about two minutes of normal time left the Madisons pressure finally came to fruition as Lee Thomson got onto a through ball rounded a defender and the over committed keeper and kept his nerve as he slotted home coolly into the open net.

With the last kick of normal time Richard MacBlain had the chance to seal it at the death for Madisons, but with time and acres of space he played his shot straight into the advancing keeper’s hands.

Full Time: Corby Madisons 1 v 1 Moulton

The game went on to extra time and straight away Madisons put the now tired looking Moulton under pressure with several good runs. In the 10^th minute of the first period L Thomson cleverly played himself through on goal as he spotted two of his team mates off-side, beat the last defender and slotted home for 2-1. At the end of the period Thomson, on his hat-trick put his shot just wide. Within a minute of the re-start he made up for it with a brilliant run starting in his own half that ended in him putting number three past the keeper, by now the game was over and three minutes later Warren made it 4-1 after Moulton failed to clear their lines.

After Extra Time: Corby Madisons 4 v 1 Moulton