Futures Sports News

Moulton's Stephan William bursts through the John Leggot midfield

After a tough previous fixture the previous week Moulton Men’s team were ready to make amends and prove their worth in a potentially tough encounter against an experienced John Leggot college on a very hot and humid day on the Moulton College Waterbase.  Moulton started well and asked questions of the John Leggot team early, forcing the goalkeeper in to some fine saves, saving a drag flick from James Knibb destine for the top corner and also making a fine save after David Marriott, James Knibb and Antony Condon linked up well down the right.  It was from the penalty corner that Moulton were able to open their account and it came from a rich source of goals this season James Knibb, who this time got the better of the John Leggot goalkeeper who could only parry the ball in to the top right hand corner.  However the John Leggot goalkeeper was making some great saves and keeping his team in it. It was only a matter of time until Moulton scored again and it was James Knibb again on hand maintaining his composure after a great interchange with David Marriott leaving him one on one with the goalkeeper and got the better of him again for 2:0.  Soon after David Marriott decided it was his time to get on the score sheet and tapped in after some great work yet again from James Knibb calming lifting the ball over the on rushing keeper.  During Moulton’s bombardment at the John Leggot goal new team member Danny Foster was having the game of his life in his new position of right half; defensively having the better of his man and tireless working off the ball to get ahead of the play and having superb poise on the ball for a new hockey player.  Just before half time Ed Holt was involved in the game with a great reactive save late on doing well to maintain his concentration after having very little to do all half.

Moulton came in 3:0 up for a well-deserved break and discussed where the positives in the play were. The option was then made clear to either repeat them and win comfortably or to ignore them, play as individuals and let the opposition back in to the game.  Thankfully the latter was not on the mind of the rampant Moulton players and they were soon 4:0 up with David Marriott finishing with a first time reverse from another excellent interchange with James Knibb.  Those two were unstoppable and David soon had his hat-trick after great use of a skill the team have been working on in training, the shave tackle to make it 5:0.  6:0 this time it was James Knibb completing his hat-trick after some fantastic team play down the right involving Sam Bigley, Antony Condon and James Knibb knew exactly where the ball was going to end up and slotting away well.  At a hat-trick apiece for both David and James you would assume they would let someone else score but no, David got his fourth again linking up James Knibb and was somewhat fortunate playing a one two off the goalkeeper but stayed composed and finished up well.  Credit to John Leggot who never gave up and were rewarded after some good play finding themselves in a shooting position and finished well to make it 7:1.  A few tactical changes pushed Stephan William, who had had a great influence throughout from the back, to centre forward giving David Marriott a new challenge of central defence. A special mention goes to Dominic Watson and David Cox who are becoming solid members of the squad ever growing in confidence. Moulton hadn’t quite finished their scoring as the game draw to a close and not to be outdone James Knibb picked up his fourth equalling David, beating one, two and then three players, sending goalkeeper the wrong way and slotting the ball low to the left, completing an impressive team performance.

Man of the match could have gone to several players David Marriott scoring 4 good goals, Danny Foster for having an exceptional game but coach Brett Holland rewarded James Knibb not only for his 4 goals but more so his outstanding contributions to the team and his positivity throughout which was considered to be his best college game the coach had seen.