If Mossley can play as badly as this and still take three points then Jason Beckford's men are in with a real shout this season. This narrow victory places Mossley back at the top of the League but it was a pale shadow of the side that had ripped Rossendale to shreds just seven days earlier.
Without the injured Leon Mike and Josh Howard Mossley failed to assert themselves on the game. Unforced errors allowing Chorley easy possession and but for some poor finishing Mossley could already have been trailing before Chris Downey gave the Lilywhites the lead with another quality goal. Receiving a pass from Carl Rezai on the edge of the box the former Bolton Wanderers striker 'turned on a sixpence' before lifting a superb chipped shot beyond Gillies and into the corner of the net.
Mossley might have gone on to win the game at a canter but instead gave Chorley the initiative back and the Magpies deserved their equaliser when it came in the 30th minute. David Eatock finishing off a neat move after Carvill's right wing cross was deflected into his path by the unfortunate former Chorley skipper Billy McCartney.
Eight minutes later Mossley were offered a golden opportunity to finally get to grips with the game when Mario Daniel burst clear only to be brought down just outside the area by keeper Gillies when he would surely have scored. Gillies was shown the red card and full back Dougie Pitts took the keepers jersey. However, that Mossley barely tested Pitts goalkeeping abilities throughout the remainder of the game will no doubt be a worry for the Mossley management as possession was too easily squandered and despite facing a massed defence in the second half still contrived to be caught off-side with almost every attack.
Despite sitting on the point their work-rate deserved Chorley were still a threat on the counter attack and Mossley had Lee Bracey to thank on more than one occasion as the home side pressed forward looking for a winner leaving themselves exposed in defence.
It looked as though the night would end in frustration until inside the last minute of normal time. John Hore hit an inch perfect cross from deep on the left and Rhodri Giggs stole in unmarked at the far post to nod home from six yards and joyously celebrate his winning goal in front of a group of Chorley supporters who had been shouting abuse at him all night. Chorley tried to rally and even forced a corner in stoppage time but Mossley held out for a win that their performance on this occasion hardly merited.