For the second week running Mossley's inability to kill teams off when they were comfortably on top in a game was to prove costly once more as profligacy in attack, along with some charity in defence, allowed Salford to record their first victory in the league this season.
Determined to put their recent run of bad results behind them, the Lilywhites took the game to their opponents straight from the kick-off. In doing so they exerted a tremendous amount of pressure on Salford's goal, fashioning a succession of chances through some fantastic build-up play down both wings.
Initially the chances were going begging as players narrowly missed out on applying the finishing touches but when they finally did start connecting with the stream of through balls and crosses being played into the box, the City goal began to live a charmed life.
At least it did until the 19th minute when Christian Hirst fed Lee Blackshaw's low cross into the path of Danny Egan and the former Macclesfield player slipped the ball under Martin Campbell to give the Lilywhites a thoroughly merited lead.
That changed though eight minutes later when Danny Toronczak found himself alone and with the ball at his feet on the edge of the Mossley penalty area, the home team's defence seemingly having gone AWOL. It was an open invitation to score that the ex-Lilywhite forward had no qualms in accepting and he calmly slotted the ball past Ashley Connor to give the visitors a surprise equaliser.
The goal saw Mossley redouble their efforts as an attacking force and within seconds of the restart the City back line were literally throwing themselves in front of the ball as the Lilywhites began to pepper their goal with shots. On the occasions their efforts proved ineffective, goalkeeper Campbell was turning out to be a more formidable barrier.
As half-time approached though the home side failed to heed the lesson about leaving their opponents unmarked from the first goal and the consequence proved damaging. It was Toronczak once more who was afforded acres of space, only this time he was upended by the onrushing Connor before he could get his shot away. The awarding of a penalty came as no surprise and neither did Toronczak's conversion of it.
When the teams went off at the interval there was no reason to think why Mossley couldn't get back into the game but the expected onslaught of Campbell's goal after the break never materialised. Instead, for every bit as a good as they were in the first half, the Lilywhites were the complete opposite in the second and they looked a beaten side virtually from the restart.
And that's exactly what they became in the 58th minute when Salford's impressive start to the second period was rewarded with a third goal. Once again, the ease in which it came was disturbing as McDonald was allowed to run through a host of motionless white shirts to glance home a free-kick floated into the box by Lathan Forrester.
A late rally by the Lilywhites saw Danny Egan notch his second goal of the game and halve the arrears but it was too little too late. If anything, instead of giving Mossley a boost for the closing moments of the match it seemed to inspire Salford more and if Barry Massey hadn't wasted two gilt edged chances their winning margin would have been much greater than one.
With a series of tougher fixtures coming up over the next few weeks it's to be hoped that Mossley rediscover early season form sooner rather than later or else slipping could down the table could turn in to an unwanted slide.
report by SJNR
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Aaron Flanagan
pic by Aaron Flanagan
pic by Aaron Flanagan
pic by Aaron Flanagan
pic by Garry Hadfield
pic by Garry Hadfield
