Moulton Harrox climbed up to third in the ChromaSport PDFL Premier Division table as they battled to a 1-0 win over old rivals Netherton United on Saturday.
A red card to John Smith on the 30-minute mark made life difficult for Moulton, but Declan Earth’s deflected free-kick after the break gave Bobby Patterson and Tim Cole’s side a huge victory.
A key double save – the first of which being a penalty – from in-form keeper Ant Murphy was also a pivotal moment as he made it four clean sheets on the spin.
In what was their final game of the year, the three points keeps them on the edge of the title race and ensured that they end 2021 four successive victories.
“It was a tough game,” admitted co-boss Patterson. “Not only did we play with ten men for an hour or so, but we also lost Josh McGuire and Luke Gardner to injuries.
“I think we had a bit of a makeshift side for the second half, but we just went 4-4-1 and put a shift in really.
“Netherton are much-changed from their side of old player-wise, but play the same way they always have.
“They’re a tough side to play with ten men, as they make the pitch very wide.
“But it was another proper Moulton performance, which is credit to the lads who are gelling very nicely as a team now.
“Credit has to go to Ant, who made a great penalty save and was up quickly for the rebound. He’s really taken his chance in the first team well and has four clean sheets in a row.
“Given that we had a very disappointing start to the season, the way we have finished the year has been much better.
And we’re now looking forward to the Lincs Junior Cup quarter-final at Pointon when we’re back next year.”
Moulton: Murphy, McGuire (Clay), Gardner (Law), Coddington, Chappell, Kisla, Woodward, Townsend, Smith, Ford, Earth. Not used: Bradbury.
