The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
There looks to no stopping Moulton Harrox in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division at the moment.
Dave Panton’s side extended their amazing unbeaten league run to 19 matches on Saturday with a dominant 9-0 victory at a bewildered Sawtry – clocking up their 18th league win the process.
The in-form Ollie Maltby once again stole the show with a four-goal haul as he made it 22 goals for the season, while Ian Bradbury, Ash Coddington, Dan Lambe-Hyner, Joe Townsend and Louis Steadman rounded off the rout at Greenfields.
Harrox remain three points clear of Whittlesey Athletic at the top – and boss Panton was pleased with the reaction shown by his side following their PFA Senior Cup exit to their title rivals last time out.
He said: “Having gone to Sawtry (and won) in both cups I was worried about this one, as nobody wants to get beat three times at home by the same team.
“I think Sawtry had some personnel issues to deal with, but we can only play who is put in front of us.
“I’m very pleased with the performance, it was a much better and disciplined match from us which I felt we didn’t produce against Whittlesey in our last game.
“I told the lads to go away and look at what went wrong last week – and the lads rectified things, resulting in a dominating display.
“Ollie is in great form at the moment, his attitude and performances are fantastic.
“I was also really pleased for Dan Lambe-Hyner, who worked tirelessly on the wing and scored a great goal, which was the goal of the game in my opinion.”
Table-topers Moulton went into the game without four key players due to illness and unforeseeable circumstances.
That allowed Lambe-Hyner to come into the starting 11 for first time this season – and didn’t disappoint.
On a boggy pitch, Harrox started well and immediately found themselves camped in the Sawtry half.
And, with Jonny Clay and skipper Billy King bossing midfield, they eventually went ahead through Bradbury’s 20th goal of the season.
Maltby’s first of the afternoon then made it 2-0, before the goal of the game from debutant Lamb-Hyner.
He raced down the left and cut inside to curl a strike into the top corner, proving what quality Moulton’s reserve side has available.
Full back Phil Groves then powered forward and crossed for Coddington to make it 4-0, before Maltby converted a King pass to give the visitors a hefty half-time lead.
It was more of the same after the break, with skipper King sending Townsend through for the sixth and sub Steadman lashing home number seven from 18 yards.
Fittingly it was Maltby who had the last word, nothing the last two goals to leapfrog Bradbury at the top of the scoring charts.
Moulton now turn their attention to Saturday’s President Premier Shield semi-final against Premier Division rivals Netherton United at Broad Lane (1.30pm).
With South Holland rivals Pinchbeck United travelling to Stanground for the other last four clash, hopes are high of a derby date in the final.
Panton admits that both Harrox and Netherton, who hit seven at the weekend, would have preferred tougher tests prior to the showdown.
But he insists that everyone at the club is looking forward to Saturday’s showdown.
Panton added: “We now move on to a massive semi-final on Saturday.
“With us winning comfortably, as well as Netherton, I’d imagine their manager – like myself –wished for a more competitive game ahead of our clash.
“But we will prepare this week and look forward to the fixture at home.”
Moulton Harrox: Kenealy, Groves, Johnson, Coddington, Patterson, King, Clay, Lambe-Hyner (L Steadman), Townsend, Bradbury, Maltby. Not used: Allen, D Panton.
