Mossley's preparations for the trip to Wakefield on Tuesday night were hit by the unavailability of Mike Fish (working away) and Ben Richardson (unwell) and then on the night several players were held up following a motorway accident and didn't arrive at the ground until around fifteen minutes before kick off.

The Lilywhites were further hit when the referee awarded the home side a 12th minute penalty, harshly awarded against Mike Oates who seemed to win the ball cleanly as Brandon Kane bore down on goal. Wakefield's giant (one of a large number of six foot plus players in the Wakefield side) striker Tom Denton fired the spot kick into the corner just wide of Peter Collinge's despairing dive. This was Wakefield's first attack.

Mossley controlled possession to a large degree but Wakefield doubled their lead in the 20th minute. A deep cross from the right was clawed away by Collinge under heavy physical pressure from Denton and the ball fell for home captain Wes Milnes who scored from 10 yards.

Again Mossley played all the football but Wakefield scored again with their third attack on 27 minutes when the man mountain that is Tom Denton headed home from another right wing long ball.

Wakefield couldn't be described as a footballing team as their only ploy was to boom balls into the air for their big strikers, they also had a player with one of the longest throw ins I have ever seen and having gained a bizarre three goal advantage then set about defending it . . . and defend it they did!

The home side's back four quickly became a back eight as they were forced deeper and deeper throughout the remainder of the game. Mossley were thrown a lifeline though in the 34th minute when Jones handled Kris Dennis' shot and Matty Kay fired home the penalty.

In the early minutes of the second half Mossley lost Aaron Chalmers who was taken to hospital with a serious ankle injury. He was replaced by youth team star Joe Heap who acquitted himself extremely well despite having little room in which to work against a packed defence. Several Mossley shots went close and Wakefield's massive keeper Jan Zolna was kept busy throughout.

Mossley were awarded a second penalty in the 77th minute when Jones brought down Matty Kay. Kay dusted himself off to fire home to set up a frantic finale.

Mossley tried desperately to find an equaliser but the ball wouldn't find it's way into the home net and Wakefield hung on to collect the points on a night that would best be forgotten quickly with some big games ahead.

Report by Wizard