MOSSLEY gave their UniBond League Premier Division survival hopes a shot in the arm following their superb 4-0 victory at Frickley Athletic on Saturday, but they were unable to repeat those exploits yesterday at Ashton United where a 1-0 loss leaves them nine points adrift of a position of safety.

Mossley’s win at Frickley ended a dismal run of 11 league games without a win, a sequence stretching back almost three months.

With captain Melford Knight banned and David Eyres injured, Mossley were far from at full strength yet they produced their best performance of the season to inflict Frickley’s heaviest defeat of the campaign.

Mossley took control early on as James Turley scored twice in the opening quarter of the match and a Carl Giblin own goal gave them a 3–0 interval lead.

Substitute Peter Wright added a fourth goal on the hour and Mossley’s debutant keeper Steve Wilson, the former Hull, Macclesfield and Tranmere shot stopper, only had one serious effort to save late on.

Unfortunately, Mossley were unable to make it a weekend double as they lost yesterday at Ashton United after becoming bogged down in the mud at Hurst Cross.

Mossley made a bright opening and had chances, but they lost momentum in the second half when the pitch became a quagmire.

The hosts clinched victory in the 81st minute when Phil Cooney crossed for Gary Kharas to head home at the far post.