An unbeaten run of five games became six for Mossley as they extended their current streak of good form with a comfortable victory over Lancaster City in the Unibond President's Cup.

It was a result which once they'd taken a 40th minute lead through Steve Settle never looked in doubt but prior to it the game was balanced on the proverbial knife edge.  The Lilywhites were creating the majority of the chances but just as they'd done against Clitheroe in their previous game, the lack of an end product was giving their opponents goalkeeper, Neil Beesley, a trouble free time.

Lancaster on the other hand weren't posing quite as much of a threat but twice they almost took the lead following good passages of football; Mark Jackson hit the upright with a diving header and Adam Farrell was denied by a stunning reaction save from Peter Collinge.

But then came Settle's strike which tipped the game in Mossley's favour; the former Leigh winger reacting the quickest to divert a Steve Moore effort across the line after it had rebounded off the underside of the crossbar.  Moore did find the back of the net though straight after the interval, doubling the home sides lead with a venomous shot from close range.

The lead was halved almost immediately when Roger Sharrock netted for City but it failed to herald any kind of resurgence in the visitors.  Instead it was Mossley who continued to press forward and the two goal advantage was soon restored when Graham Kay headed a Ben Richardson cross past Beesley.  Twelve minutes later Kay's namesake Matty sealed the victory, and with it a place in the next round, with a shot from just outside the box.

In the closing stages of the game the Lilywhites had more chances to inflict further misery on their opponents but the winning margin remained at three, mainly due to the sole efforts of Beesley as his defence crumbled in front of him.

Whatever the pros and cons are of the President's Cup (the latter being significantly greater in number than the former) , the opportunity for Mossley to register a good win over a good side and extend their lossless streak will undoubtedly give them a boost as they head to Spalding United in the FA Trophy.

Report by SJNR