Despite a superb hat-trick by in form striker Chris McDonagh, Mossley were denied victory in stoppage time in this feisty encounter at Trafford’s Shawe View ground.

Mossley opened brightly with McDonagh, Steve Moore and Mike Fish prominent in early raids and there was little surprise when Mossley took a 10th minute lead.

Nick Allen slipped a great ball inside to Lee Blackshaw who crossed low for McDonagh to tap home the first of his treble.

Eight minutes later Mossley were two up. Blackshaw’s deep free kick from the right was met by McDonagh who found the bottom right hand corner of the net with a thumping header from fully 18 yards.

Trafford had offered little up to that point but showed they are a force to be reckoned with when ex Mossley man Joe Shaw hit the post with a fierce drive.

Trafford reduced the arrears just before the half hour mark when Greg Hall bundled home from close range after a great run and cross by the incredibly quick Shelton Payne.

The second half started with Mossley on the back foot as the home side went in search of an equaliser that their first half performance barely merited but they were rewarded nevertheless four minutes into the half when Payne scored directly from a free kick from 25 yards.

From there on the game opened up but Trafford were restricted to long range efforts that failed to trouble Peter Collinge while Mossley continued to create the better chances. Steve Moore going closest when put through but Read blocked with his legs.

Mossley were again on top when they regained the lead in the 79th minute. Good work by Moore and Nathan Neequaye on the left opened the Trafford defence and when the ball reached Blackshaw his deft pass saw Chris McDonagh show pace and power to reach the ball before keeper Read and blast the ball home on the turn from six yards.

McDonagh was denied a fourth goal when he had three shots blocked in very quick succession and there now looked to be only one winner.

However, Trafford had other ideas and with the game two minutes into stoppage time Andy Russell was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the Mossley box as the ball bounced up at him awkwardly and Payne stepped up to score with a well struck free kick that Collinge was able to get a hand to but not keep out.

Report by John Cawthorne

pics by Smiffy