Another three points, as the headline suggests, is almost all that can be said of this lacklustre game at Hurst Cross on Thursday night. Fortunately those three points came Mossley’s way as the Lilywhites won with a goal in each half.

The game opened brightly for Mossley with Lee Blackshaw heading narrowly over from a first minute corner but the game soon petered into a dour midfield duel with neither side able to force openings.

For Mossley, too many passes went astray meaning that Woodley enjoyed the lions share of territorial possession throughout the game. However the visitors were unable to capitalise on that fact and created very little threat in front of goal.

Mossley took the lead in the 30th minute. Chris McDonagh charged through a gap in the Woodley defence but was tripped from behind by Woodley’s Tom Sellers as he prepared to shoot. The blatant penalty was neatly tucked away from 12 yards by Matty Kay for his 26th goal of the season.

The second half saw Woodley attempt to press for an equaliser but Peter Collinge in the Mossley goal was not severely tested.

With the seconds ticking away and Woodley’s chances reduced to speculative long range efforts, Mossley pounced for a match clinching second goal. Substitute Steve Moore’s cross-field pass releasing Mike Fish who strode forward in confident fashion to slot the ball past ex Mossley keeper Liam Higginbotham.

With such a busy end of season run-in, Mossley can be forgiven for somewhat sitting on their slender lead for the last hour of the game as with seven games still to play in the next 14 days.

Report by John Cawthorne

pics by Smiffy