Ortonians line up prior to their late 2-1 Charity Shield victory over close rivals Moulton Harrox
Peterborough Football Association Jack Hogg Charity Shield Final
Moulton Harrox 1 Ortonians 2
PFA Senior Cup winners Ortonians grabbed a last gasp victory in The 14th PFA Jack Hogg Charity Shield played at The Football Association Youth & Community Centre. However for long periods of the tie they were pushed hard by close rivals Moulton Harrox who almost toppled last season double winners. The match started in rather gloomy conditions, although nothing compared to the heavy downpour that greeted most of the supporters an hour before the season's curtain raiser began. When the game got underway it was the Lincolnshire who settled the better as new teenage signings Tommy Treacher and Joe Townsend linked well with the experienced Steadman and Locke. One such link up presented Treacher with a glorious opportunity on nine minutes, however his inexperience got the better of him as he shot over. Eight minutes later and the ball broke kindly for the young forward from a Patten clearance and after he found Locke, Steadman would have been disappointed with his weak effort from Locke's lay back. Play switched to the other end as the reigning Peterborough League champions tried to get their game going. The lively Bolden, who throughout the first half expressed his frustration at the service he received did break clear only to see his goal bound effort drift wide without testing the young Moulton keeper, Dunham.
Half Time Moulton Harrox 1, Ortonians 0
The two sides took the field in the second half as the gloom continued to disend around Chestnut Avenue with Ortonians manager, Steve Cooper replacing Bannie with Lawrence and and D'Arcy with new signing Fogg. It seemed to have the desired effect as the PFA Senior holders took the game to Moulton in the early stages. However the Lincolnshire side could have doubled their lead had Miles Foden done better with a 51st minute effort. Instead he gave the car park attendant more trouble than the scorers. This was to prove a rare attack by Moulton as for the next 15 minutes they were forced to defend deeper as Ortonians continued their ascendance. The ever adventureous, Eddie Patten dinked a great cross which was headed behind by Foden and the Moulton defence would have been pleased to see the resultant Attfield corner avoid the on rushing Orton forwards. Cooper then introduced Twigden for the tiring Bolden on the hour as Ortonians began to turn the screw. Baines should have done better just after Twigden's enterence as he scuffed his shot wide. He nearly regreted this miss as Treacher then tested Lawrence at the other end before Attfield then wasted a free kick opportunity by firing over. However it wasn't long before parity was restored as good work by Patten down the right saw his well flighted cross despatched by a stopping Steve Paling header. As is often the case when a side scores the play changes direction and this again was true as the urgency in Moulton's play seemed to return. Two corners were forced and following a goalmouth scramble Locke headed over from close range. As the game reached the final fifteen minutes Baines's weaving run and shot almost saw Ortonians grab the lead before Paling's looping header came even closer. The sides then traded blows and the tiring Treacher should have squared to the unmarked Locke with nine to go as the striker would have surely scored with the goal open wide. As it was the youngsters end product was somewhat disappointing and Locke was left frustrated in front of goal awaiting an invite to settle the tie. However with two minutes left on the clock Locke thought he had clinched the Shield for his side but his thundereous shot was brilliantly turned onto the post and out for a corner by the assured Darren Lawrence. It looked as if this was to be the last play of the game and for both clubs to share the Shield for six months for only the second time in the competitions history when Ortonians showed an example of their resilience that brought them so much success last term. With Moulton still dwelling on Locke's near miss, Steve Paling latched onto a through ball and with the defence pleading in vein for an offside flag the former Eye United marksman rounded Dunham to notch a dramatic winner in the last minute. It was very cruel on Moulton, who deserved a share of the spoils. Although they will be disappointed to miss out the new signings, especially Treacher and Townsend should ensure a positive league campaign. As for Ortonians the match proved a reminder that they are there to be shot at this term.
Teams: Moulton Harrox: Dunham, Foden, Earth, Hall, Taylor, Ball, Steadman, Treacher (Watkin), Locke, Townsend (Laud) .
Ortonians: Bannie (Lawrence), Davision, Attfield, McPartlin, Rayson, Patten, D'arcy (Fogg), Baines, Bolden (Twigden), Paling, Bradley.
Referee: Mr I Ward
Two minutes later and Dunham's opposite number Bannie was called into action to prevent Locke from grabbing the opener. The tall custodian diverted the hard working striker's shot for a corner. Although the corner came to nothing the stalemate was broken on 27 minutes when Townsend fed Locke and unlike Steadman's earlier effort John Ball fired past Bannie after another elegant lay off from Locke. The lead was richly deserved as the new look Lincolnshire outfit were fully justifying, manager Paul Crowson decision to tinker with his side throughout the summer. The reminder of the first half saw much of the play in midfield, although there were a couple of scares for the leaders as first Bolden and then McPartlin fired shot wide of the target when well placed.
Sub (Not Used) England
Subs (Not Used) Booth, Gomes.
