Mossley opened their season in the NPL Academy Joma Division with a home game against Mickleover Sports at Seel Park On Wednesday afternoon.

There were five new first year students in the starting line up and a further three on the bench for the Lilywhites.

The Mossley youngsters got off to a terrible start and were two down inside the opening seven minutes.

A well struck 20 yard free kick by Jack Griffiths gave the visitors a fifth minute lead and two minutes later Charlie Hanson doubled Mickleover’s lead after a partial clearance fell kindly for him to slot home.

When Mossley finally did settle they looked a dangerous proposition with skipper Dylan Fitzgerald and new boy Tcherno Djalo pulling the strings in midfield while Bruno Camara and Ben Cook proved a solid central defensive pairing.

It was at the top end of the field that Mossley struggled to make an impact but they finally got on the score sheet on 34 minutes. Sila Cande’s left wing free kick was headed past his own keeper by the unfortunate Marcus Calderone.

Mossley went on to dominate the game though the visitors remained a threat on the counter attack.

Chances came and went in the second half but they were mostly created by the hard working Mossley side and the equaliser when it finally arrived was fully deserving as was the scorer, ‘Man of the Match’ Tcherno Djalo who took his chance from the edge of the box.

Mossley looked the likelier to go on and win the game but the Lilywhites couldn’t find the finish and had to settle for an opening day point.

Wiz