Report by Jools Thomas

The footballing cliché ‘Smash and Grab’ was an ideal description of this heavily one sided El Quackico derby played at a wet Meadows Stadium. A somewhat disappointing turnout of spectators were treated to three goals, one gift to the Ducks which could only be described as comical and two which provided great quality from an otherwise out of sorts FC team.

Tre Mitford hit a low free kick as early as the first minute causing FC keeper Ash Jenkins to scamper and make a comfortable save. At the other end, Jordan Jenkins could have given FC the lead on two minutes although he failed to stab home at the far post with the keeper out of position. This chance wasn’t taken and the Moles were then punished in almost farcical fashion. A simple kick out down field by Jenkins was blocked. The ball fell to Connor Furlong who had just to stroke it home into an empty net to give the Ducks the lead.

In the 10th minute, questions were raised as Ty Deacon appeared to be bundled over by home keeper Jack Sillitoe when facing off on a one on one. Loud appeals were made however, the referee was disinterested and play continued uninterrupted. Ty did not make any mistake with his next opportunity. A ball over the top was chested down perfectly and in one movement, the target man struck a perfect shot into the bottom corner of the goal past the outstretched fingers of Sillitoe.

Another ball over the top found Brian Haule and with an unorthodox back heel flick, the assistant manager contrived to hit the post with Deacon blasting the rebound wide as FC appeared to be getting into their stride.

FC however never pushed on with this advantage and soon they were pressed back into their own half as United increased the pressure. Horatio Hirst delivered a free kick into the box, and by some amazing stroke of luck, no home attacker could prod the ball home as Jenkins gleefully pounced on the ball. Ex Mole Jeanmal Prosper then had a superb chance as he fired in a dangerous header that Derek Feyi somehow cleared. Another Prosper header, this time from a corner, was deflected away as the Moles limped into the half time break.

Tre Mitford crashed a superb strike against the post within a minute of restart. Mitford had a second glorious chance on 52 minutes when he turned and shot when deep in FC’s penalty area. Only a deflection prevented a certain goal. A 65th minute goalmouth scramble involving most of the FC defence and all of the Ducks’ attacking line saw feet flying in and blocks aplenty and only by a miracle was a goal prevented. Jack Wood had a more clear cut opportunity in the 77th minute. He raced onto a through ball and only Ash Jenkins bravely seizing the ball prevented further danger.

Harry Scott was introduced to the fray and he went on a mazy run to test the seemingly vulnerable Ducks left hand flank. After a harmless freekick from Greg Williams had been saved, FC had their first real chance of the half as Brian Haule whipped in a curling shot that only just cleared Sillitoe’s bar. By this stage, the away team were happy just to have seen the game out and were intently happy with a point. Moles’ stalwart Aston Goss had other ideas however. He found space down that left hand side and lifted a delicate cross into the path of the advancing Brian Haule whose deft header from just a matter of yards fired past the helpless keeper to give his side the winner and three vital points.