Radcliffe finally found some fluency and for a spell both sides passed the ball really well without creating clear chances. Radcliffe found an equaliser in the 16th minute though. The home side won a right wing corner. Whealing's powerful flag kick was headed clear but back to him and his second cross was powerfully headed home by central defender Ian Kearney.

The game ebbed and flowed at a high tempo but defences dominated the remainder of the half although Forrest hit the woodwork for Radcliffe.

The second half saw Mossley switch back to the more familiar 4-4-2 and the Mossley front two - Wright and Bingham were a constant menace with their pace and skill. At the other end Radcliffe's approach play was neat and accurate but lacked any kind of cutting edge with former Mossley top scorer Chris Downey becoming a more isolated figure as Mossley looked the more likely to score and so it proved.

Peter Wright . . .
very lively

A brilliant piece of skill and movement involving Shaw, Bingham and Wright saw Mossley earn a corner on the left. Shaw's flag kick was headed home very powerfully by the onrushing Melford Knight.

The points were wrapped up five minutes later. Steve Burke, who had replaced Bingham moments, earlier chased and harassed keeper Hurst and partially blocked his clearance. The ball fell for Christian Cooke who was brought down by Warner. Peter Wright purposefully claimed the ball and deemed himself to be Mossley's new penalty taker by blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the spot.

The large Mossley contingent in the crowd responded to the players at the final whistle and that applause was reciprocated by a Mossley team that certainly had a point to prove after recent disappointments.