Tuesday 21st March 2006
@ Seel Park, Mossley

Mossley
1. Lee Bracey (7)
2. Andy Thackeray (7) Y
3. Joel Pilkington (7)
4. Nicky Thompson (8)
5. Danny Meadowcroft (8)
6. Melford Knight (7)
7. Joe Shaw (8)
8. Martin Allison (7)
9. Jordan Goodeve (7)
10. Chris Downey (8)
11. Adam Morning (7) Y
subs
12. Paul Garvey (7)
(for Goodeve 45 mins)
14. Christian Cooke (7)
(for Morning 83 mins)
15. Sam McEwen
(not used)

Mossley scorers:
Chris Downey (4 mins)
Joe Shaw (64 mins)

Chorley
1. Priestley
2. Callaghan
3. Tench
4. Teale
5. Clarke
6. Bluck
7. Gibbons
8. Vermiglio (c) Y
9. Thompson
10. Wright Y
11. Mullineaux
subs
12. Barry
(for Callaghan)
14. Olsen
(not used)
15. Allen
(for Gibbons)

Chorley scorer:
Peter Wright (86 mins)

Mossley returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening with a vital victory over old rivals Chorley. The game had been abandoned once with Chorley leading 1-0 and then postponed the following week.

On this occasion thankfully the weather wasn’t a problem and what followed was an entertaining game played by two teams both trying to win the game.

In the abandoned match Chorley had defended deep, soaked up pressure and then countered quickly. On this occasion they had to change their game plan as early as the fourth minute.

Joe Shaw worked the ball across field to Adam Morning who rounded his marker and crossed low from the dead ball line for Chris Downey to turn home with the deftest of touches for his 50th goal in a Mossley shirt.

Chorley tried hard to get back in the game but they met a solid Mossley back line who denied the ‘Magpies’ forwards space or time on the ball and when they did get a shot away it was often high and wide and struck from distance.

The game switched quickly from end to end but both sides were finding the killer ball difficult to come by. Melford Knight headed over the bar and Thompson did likewise at the other end but it was on the flanks were Mossley looked the most dangerous with both Morning and Shaw causing Chorley’s defenders plenty of consternation.

Mossley had a couple of early scares in the second half as Wright headed over when he looked a certain scorer and Thompson hit a post with a well struck shot.

Mossley quickly recovered their poise and doubled the lead in the 64th minute. Pilkington fed Downey in the box who in turn set up Melford Knight. The Mossley midfielder looked a certain scorer but somehow got the ball stuck underneath him as he attempted to shoot. Knight somehow recovered to pass to Joe Shaw from a prostrate position and Shaw coolly looped his shot into the top corner from ten yards with keeper Priestley stranded.

Substitute Paul Garvey came close to a third as did Morning who struck the outside of the post but Chorley wouldn’t concede defeat and were rewarded with just four minutes remaining when Peter Wright scored on the turn from ten yards in a crowded goalmouth.

Mossley however, looked the more likely to score again in the closing moments and were able to keep Chorley pinned in their own half through to the final whistle.