This week saw the Mad Moose take on seventh-placed Stoke in the first of five must-win games in the race to 1A.

Although currently first spot appears just out of grasp as Riverside Rovers continue to dominate the division. Second spot still to play for and looking likely to be either the Mad Mooses or Norman Wanderers Reserves, every game is crucial as currently there is nothing between the two teams other than goal difference, and currently the Moose looking strong with their superior goal difference.

The Moose lined up again strong and it took them just two minutes to break the deadlock, the ball falling to Tom Swabey nine yards out placing the ball beyond the Stoke keeper with the outside of his boot. Just 11 minutes later the Moose went 2-0 up when captain Ben Burgess played Bram Goodwin-Wright through on goal with a delightful lobbed ball and Bram hit home with confidence for his 13th goal of the season. The Moose smelling a potential onslaught continued to mount pressure on a frail Stoke team, again Bram Goodwin-Wright found himself through on goal after a Ben Burgess through ball and buried it past the helpless Stoke keeper. 3-0.

Although in a confident position and three goals up by this point it could have been six and the game should have already been won. The Moose continually found themselves in threatening positions but unable to put away some clear cut chances.

At the 28 minute mark Stoke pulled one back as the Stoke forward found himself enough space to turn with the ball in the box and place the ball in the bottom corner of the Moose net giving Matt Bevan in the Moose goal little chance.

The Moose still in a confident position yet not out of second gear yet knew they needed to keep up the work rate and move up the gears to ramp up the goal difference and demonstrate their dominance over Stoke. That they started on the cusp of half-time when Bram Goodwin-Wright secured a first half hat-trick when following a short corner circled the ball into the far corner.

4-1 at half-time and the three points in the bag, now just a goal difference to concentrate on the Moose came out unchanged in the second half.

Just five minutes into the half Fionn Goodwin-Wright received the ball from Lee Wright just into the Stoke half and in space. Fionn drove the ball goalbound, with just the keeper to beat producing a deft unexpected lob to get the first of the half. The 66th minute saw Lee Wright get his first of the season, after having one clear goal in the first half adjudged to not be over the line it was due to come. Lee leapt to meet the Moose corner and headed home from six yards out to make it 6-1.

Bram Goodwin-Wright got another two before the final whistle for his fourth and fifth of the game, the first a right footed shot smashing against the inside of the post and in, and the second following an excellent string of passes with brother Fionn assisting Bram to get his fifth and secure an 8-1 win to the Mad Moose.

Next week see’s the Moose away to a struggling Deopham side.