Despite the narrow scoreline Mossley were always in control of their local pre season derby against Ashton United at Seel Park tonight.

The Lilywhites started with what looked to be a near full strength eleven and after an uncertain start gradually began to take control of the game.

With Mossley captain Lee Connor and Gareth Hamlet, who looks equally comfortable in attack or defence, providing a solid back line, Ashton were unable to create anything of note, while Mossley were held at bay by some increasingly rough arm tactics by their neighbours, that eventually led to yellow cards for former Mossley men Melford Knight and Billy McCartney.

The dangerous Kitson Gayle fired narrowly wide, while desperate defending prevented Paul Garvey and Martin Allison from breaking the deadlock.

Mossley finally took the lead in the 37th minute when Jamie Miller was pushed over by McCartney as Craig Ferrand's left wing corner reached the back post. Mossley captain Lee Connor comfortably dispatched the resultant spot kick.

The impressive Jamie Miller earned his "champagne moment", with a thundering effort that came back off the underside of the bar following a flowing Mossley raid.

Mossley, unchanged at half time, continued to control the game with Martin Allison and Craig Ferrand prominent in central midfield where they clearly won their duel for dominace with Knight and Danny Forde.

Mossley increased their lead on 50 minutes. Kitson Gayle won a free kick after being bundled over some 25 yards from goal to the left side of the box. He took the free kick himself and curled a superb shot into the top corner beyond Ashton keeper Damien Rooney's despairing reach.

Gerry Quinn then shuffled his pack and through the remainder of the game made a total of nine changes which finally disrupted the team just enough for Ashton to grab a late consolation when Ashton substitute Glyn Barker scored from close range.

Although not the finished article, the early signs are promising that Gerry Quinn has collected some quality players around him but vthe acid test of the progress made comes in a fortnight when the Lilywhites travel to Garforth for the opening UniBond League Division One North match.

Lee Connor opens the scoring from the spot