Monday 2nd January 2006
@ Hollinwod Road, Kidsgrove

Mossley
1. Sam McEwen (7)
2. Andy Thackeray (7)
3. Steve Sheil (7)
4. Paul Challinor (7)
5. Karl Vernon (7)
6. Christian Cooke (8)
7. Rhodri Giggs (8)
8. Joel Pilington (6)
9. Jordan Goodeve (6)
10. Chris Downey (7)
11. Joe Shaw (10)
subs
12. Adam Morning (5)
(for Cooke 76 mins)
14. Nicky Thompson
(not used)

Scorers:
Mossley
Steve Sheil (16 mins)
Paul Challinor (55 mins)
Chris Downey (pen) (60 mins)

Kidsgrove Athletic
1. Heeps
2. Vickers
3. Fitton
4. Thomas
5. Johnson
6. Hancock
7. Matthews
8. Robinson
9. Rhead
10. Jones
11. Miller
subs
12. Eyre
(for Jones)
14. Twigg
(for Robinson)
15. Bostock
(for Miller)

Scorers:
Kidsgrove
McEwen (own goal 81 mins)
Twigg (87)

Referee: T.McGee (Liverpool)

It took a strong performance by Mossley to gain all three points at Kidsgrove in the opening game of 2006.

The claret and blue clad Lilywhites took control of the first half from very early. Rhodri Giggs going through one on one with keeper Stuart Heaps but failing to score as early as the second minute.

Mossley didn’t have to wait too long for the opening goal though. Mossley won a corner on the left in the 16th minute. The ball played ping pong in the box before Steve Sheil stuck out a foot to score past Heaps from ten yards in a crowded box.

Mossley went on to control the half as Kidsgrove were restricted to breaks although Mossley keeper Sam McEwen made a fine save to deny Rhead.

Mossley scored a spectacular second gola ten minutes into the second half.
The outstanding Joe Shaw raced down the right touchline and crossed to the edge of the Kidsgrove box and central defender Paul Challinor acrobatically volleyed into the top corner with a flying scissor kick that gave Heaps no chance as the ball sailed into the top corner.

The result was more or less wrapped up five minutes later when Shaw was felled in the box and Chris Downey made no mistake from the resultant spot kick.

With Mossley apparently home and dry and coasting to a comfortable victory things started to a little awry.

Andy Thackeray’s back pass to Sam McEwen found the young Mossley keeper, who had played very well up to that moment, took his eye off the ball and sliced an attempted clearance into his own net with just nine minutes remaining.

Kidsgrove sensing a comeback threw everything at Mossley in the last few minutes and pulled another goal back three minutes from time as veteran striker Darren Twigg came off the bench to head home from a corner.

Mossley looked unrattled though and still threatened on the break and despite Kidsgrove’s all out aerial assault comfortably hung on to the final whistle to take maximum points.