Mad Moose were 3-1 winners at Dancing Farmers in a clash between two teams new to the division after gaining promotion from Division 3a last season.

In the last two seasons both teams had shared the points with a win each.

The Mad Moose have made a great start to the current season, with five wins out of their six games, and were looking to continue their good run and give themselves every chance of doing the double over what had previously been their bogey team.

They were up against a weakened Dancing Farmers team, with injuries taking their toll on the squad meaning they had managed only one win in their previous five games.

It was evident within the first five minutes which team was full of confidence as the Moose attack saw a majority of possession with very little resistance from the Farmers.

As the half continued the Farmers were unable to get a hold of the game and a majority of the time they were in possession the Mad Moose midfield and defence were able to regain possession with ease and take control.

Early chances were put wide and into the keepers’ arms, but it was only a matter of time before the Moose went ahead. It took until the 22nd minute when a long throw from the right went across the box. Dancing Farmers’ defenders were unable to read the bounce and the ball fell to Bram Goodwin-Wright who put the ball in the net from just two yards out.

As the half progressed possession remained with the Mad Moose, with the Dancing Farmers struggling to get into the game or put any kind of stamp on it.

Seconds before the half-time whistle blew, Mad Moose captain Ben Burgess had to be substituted, meaning a change in personnel in the heart of midfield for the Moose.

A minute into the second half Dancing Farmers managed to grab an equaliser – a corner was sent in from the right and no Mad Moose player was able to head clear. The ball fell at the back post to the Farmers striker, and slipped through the grasp of the Moose keeper and into the net to make it 1–1 from the Dancing Farmers one attempt of the game.

As the second half progressed it was clear that the Dancing Farmers were happy to settle for a draw as they soaked up the pressure from the Mad Moose front four with several strong challenges being absorbed by the Moose forward players. Although having a majority of the possession the Mad Moose were struggling to create any clear-cut chances as the Farmers closed each player down quickly and in numbers.

It took until the 82nd minute for the Moose to take the lead, and it had been coming right from the equaliser. A deflected shot fell to James Raven on the penalty spot. His effort took a deflection, wrong-footing the Farmers keeper, to make it 2-1.

Just three minutes later the Mad Moose made it 3–1, after left back Ben Spraggon calmly took the ball past the Farmers winger then played it to Goodwin-Wright. After some quick interchanges with Darren Hills, Darren saw an opening and cruised past the Farmers defender and buried the ball in the back of the net to seal the three points.

The Farmers will feel that although they struggled to create many chances they could have clinched a draw. However, it was always clear the stronger team came out winners.