Tuesday
13th September 2005
@ Seel Park, Mossley

Mossley
1. Jon Worsnop (7)
2. Christian Cooke (7)
3. Steve Sheil (7)
4. Karl Vernon (7)
5. Danny Meadowcroft (7)
6. Melford Knight (8)
7. Josh Howard (7)
8. Nicky Thompson (7)
9. Jordan Goodeve (8)
10. Chris Downey (7)
11. Adam Morning (8)
subs
12. Phil Denney
(not used)
14. Joe Shaw
(not used)
15. Joel Pilkington (-)
(for Howard 69)

Scorers:
Mossley
Jordan Goodeve (16)
Melford Knight (42)
Melford Knight (55)
Chris Downey (80)

Belper Town
1. Wilson
2. James
3. Wright
4. Lyons
5. Coleano
6. Hobson
7. Gummer
8. Hudson
9. Ingall
10. Rushbury
11. Fox
12. Carter
(not used)
14. Harrison
(for Gummer)
15. Burton
(not used)

Scorers:
Belper:
Rushbury (47)
Wright (60)

Mossley were pushed all the way by a hard working Belper Town side at Seel Park, but the Lilywhites responded to Saturday’s disappointing FA Cup exit by returning to winning ways and returning to 2nd place in the table a point behind current leaders Fleetwood Town.

Belper enjoyed the early pressure but with Danny Meadowcroft returning to the heart of the defence and keeper Jon Worsnop making his Mossley debut Mossley held firm and when they finally eased their way into the game as an attacking force the home side took a 16th minute lead.
A poorly hit clearance arrived at Jordan Goodeve’s feet with his back to goal some thirty five yards out. The Mossley number 9 had time to turn and set up a typically thunderous 20 yard shot that kidded Belper keeper Wilson and squirmed under his body.

The Lilywhites pressure began to mount with Adam Morning prominent on the left and Josh Howard creating mayhem on the right with his silky skills making their first appearance of the season in place of the injured Rhodri Giggs.

Mossley deservedly doubled the lead on 42 minutes when Morning’s left wing cross was only partially cleared and Melford Knight was able to pick his spot from 15 yards and ball ended in the top corner of the net with Wilson well beaten.

A minute before the break Belper had their best chance when Asa Ingall’s effort bounced off the top of the bar.

It was a warning shot Mossley didn’t heed as two minutes after the restart the visitors halved the arrears when Andy Rushbury was given room to turn in the boxd and place a low shot beyond Worsnop’s left hand.

Belper pressed hard for an equaliser but Mossley’s defending into a swirling wind was solid if unspectacular and the Lilywhites were still an obvious threat on the break.

The third Mossley goal duly arrived on 55 minutes. Goodeve’s cross from the left was powerfully headed home by the unmarked Melford Knight for his second goal of the game.

Belper refused to lie down though and continued their neat passing game and gave themselves hope once more in the 60th minute when left back Wright bundled the ball home in a goalmouth scramble following a free kick on the left.

The points were wrapped up ten minutes from time when Steve Sheil’s cross from deep on the left was handled by a defender at the near post but as the Mossley fans behind the goal cried ’hand ball’ as one, Chris Downey who had been forcibly man-handled by his markers all evening was in the perfect position to score from close range to change the strong penalty appeal into cheers as the goal was awarded.