Mossley were denied a richly deserved draw at title chasing Chorley on Tuesday night by a stoppage time penalty decision that could best be described as absurd.

What on earth possessed referee Mr D. McDonald to give such a decision will forever remain a mystery. There wasn’t even an appeal by the Chorley players as Matty Kay clearly chested the ball down before clearing a Chorley attack. The evidence was even left in the middle of Matty’s shirt where a round, ball shaped wet stain gave absolute proof that the Mossley midfielder hadn’t handled the ball.

It wasn’t the only bizarre decision on the evening by a referee who seemed to be doing his best to award Chorley as many free kicks as possible for the slightest of challenges and to wave yellow cards at as many Mossley players as he could. At the same time, unfair Chorley challenges went largely unpunished by the man in the middle. Co-incidence or conspiracy, one can only speculate!

The game itself was a fast and fluid affair. Chorley’s largely ineffective long ball game vs Mossley’s more considered approach was the order of the night though chances for either side were few in number.

Mossley’s ex Chorley keeper Peter Collinge made good saves when called on while the outstanding Mike Fish was denied by home stopper Aaron Grundy on several occasions.

Chorley took the lead with a suspicion of off-side when John Cunliffe broke clear to fire a looping shot past Collinge in the 40th minute. It was harsh on Mossley who had dominated possession while Chorley attempted to play on the break.

Mossley levelled the score six minutes after the restart. Fish played a great ball out to Ben Richardson on the left and the Mossley wing back cut inside before shooting. His angled 15 yard effort taking a deflection off a defender to loop over the stranded Grundy. It was no less that the visitors deserved for their all action performance.

Defences were dominant for the remainder of the game right up to the referee’s stoppage time aberration.
Substitute Jordan Stepien stroked home the penalty kick only a couple of minutes after entering the game.
Even then Mossley didn’t give up and earned a corner almost straight from the kick off.

Peter Collinge raced up to join the attack for the corner and was almost the hero as he rose highest to win the ball but his header flew just inches past the post and the game was undeservedly lost in the most controversial of circumstances.

Report by Wizard