Tuesday 6th September 2005
@ Seel Park, Mossley

Mossley
1. Lee Bracey (8)
2. Christian Cooke (8)
3. Steve Sheil (7)
4. Karl Vernon (8) Y
5. Danny Meadowcroft (6)
6. Melford Knight (8)
7. Rhodri Giggs (c) (9)
8. Nicky Thompson (9)
9. Jordan Goodeve (8)
10. Chris Downey (10)
11. Adam Morning (8)
subs
12. Paul Challinor
(not used)
14. Phil Denney (8)
(for Meadowcroft 26)
15. Joe Shaw (-)
(for Giggs 85)

Scorers:
Mossley
Chris Downey (12)
Chris Downey (32)
Phil Denney (72)
Rhodri Giggs (77)
Chris Downey (80)

Kendal Town
1. Salisbury
2. Whittal-Williams
3. Rigby
4. Sparrow
5. Mercer
6. Woodruff
7. Kilford
8. Osborne
9. Foster
10. Ashcroft
11. Smith
12. McKenna
(not used)
14. Mayers
(for Smith)
15. Ward Y
(for Foster)

Scorers:
Kendal:
Lee Ashcroft (42)
Kenny Mayers (73)

Mossley bounced straight back to form following Saturday's disappointment with a five star show to beat promotion favourites Kendal Town 5-2 with five superbly taken goals at Seel Park tonight.

Kendal, strong, well organised and with veteran striker Lee Ashcroft leading the line superbly, played their part in a game that flowed constantly from end to end with both sides committed to winning the game.

Kendal had a couple of efforts off target while Mossley soaked up some early pressure but it was the Lilywhites who drew first blood when Adam Morning's cross from deep on the left was controlled and finished by Chris Downey from six yards in the 12th minute.

The Lilywhites began to play some superb flowing football which wasn't even disrupted when Danny Meadowcroft limped off in the 26th minute and a major reshuffle down the middle of the team ensued with Nicky Thompson switching from midfield to central defence, Jordan Goodeve from centre forward to midfield and centre forward Phil Denney getting the call from the bench.

In fact it took only five minutes after the enforced reshuffle for Mossley to double the lead. Morning's cross was dummied by Rhodri Giggs and Chris Downey was able to pick his spot from close range.

Mossley's approach play was sublime and a third goal looked on the cards when the game took a sudden twist as Lee Ashcroft found a yard of space and finished superbly in the far corner to half the arrears two minutes before the break and then the visitors were awarded a somewhat fortuitous penalty when Steve Sheil was adjudged to have pushed Ashcroft. The Kendal hot-shot took the spot kick himself and struck the ball firmly to Lee Bracey's right. However, the Mossley keeper dived superbly to turn the spot kick away to safety and retain Mossley's lead to the break.

Kendal pressed forward for an equaliser after the break but were unable to break down Mossley's solid defensive line while the Lilywhites were a constant threat on the counter attack.

The two goal gap was finally re-opened on 72 minutes when Giggs' free kick from the right was powerfully headed home by Phil Denney.

Within a minute though Kendal again reduced the arrears with a well taken goal by substitute Kenny Mayers.

Mossley made it 4-2 five minutes later. Downey and Morning combined for the latter to cross, Denney met the ball on the by-line at the far post and headed back across goal for Rhodri Giggs to nod home from almost on the line despite Kendal's off-side protestations.

The scoring and the points were settled in the 80th minute when Chris Downey capped a high quality personal performance with a brilliantly taken solo effort, dribbling around three defenders in the box before curling the ball into the far corner.

It was a fairground ride of a game that for a long time could have gone either way but Mossley finally ran out worthy winners thanks to some absolutely brilliant attacking football and Chris Downey's goalscoring mastery.