Mossley experienced their third defeat in five days at a warm and sunny Skelmersdale on Saturday in the harshest manner, to finally end the Lilywhites slim hopes of achieving a place in the end of season promotion play offs.

The game started badly for the orange clad Lilywhites as Mark Houghton gave the hosts a second minute lead as he scrambled home at the second attempt from close range

Mossley weren’t rattled though and hit back in the 13th minute when Lee Blackshaw’s pinpoint free kick was headed home by skipper Graham Kay.

Skem forged ahead again in their next attempt three minutes later with a well worked goal by Karl Ledsham.
Mossley were then hit by a hamstring injury to Steve Settle and were further hit as the hosts went in at the break 3-1 to the good when Chris Almond scored in the 39th minute.

Shortly before the interval manager John Flanagan was sent off from the dug out when the female linesperson took exception to something he was alleged to have said.

Mossley played with far more impetus after the break with Mike Fish in an unfamiliar deep role and substitute Nathan Neequaye involved in several Mossley raids. In one such attack in the 70th minute Neequaye hammered a great 20 yard shot that gave Skem keeper McMahon no chance for 3-2.

Mossley pressed hard and gave everything that tired legs would allow to rescue something from a game that looked lost at half time.

Skem scrambled away several Mossley attacks but heartbreak was to follow in the closing minutes as Mossley pressed hard for an equaliser.

A Neequaye corner was fumbled by McMahon and scrambled clear off the line. A punt upfield found Almond who beat Collinge as the Mossley keeper raced from his line and a minute later the home side added an underserved fifth through substitute Leon Quarless.

Report by John Cawthorne