It was chances galore for Mossley as the Lilywhites returned to winning ways with a thoroughly entertaining four goal victory against Ossett Albion at an extremely chilly Seel Park on Tuesday night.

Mossley boss Shaun Higgins gave a debut to Rochdale loanee Callum Byrne and he was quick to show his credentials, scoring one and creating two of Mossley's, what was in the end a comprehensive win.

The side showed a number of changes and a somewhat different system to that employed at Chester on Saturday. Peter Collinge returned from suspension with an assured display, a mis-hit clearance apart. Cavell Coo made his first start for the club in the wide midfield area, Daryl Weston also returned from suspension to strengthen midfield while Lee Blackshaw quite successfuly partnered Mike Oates up front.

After a couple of neat touches in the opening moments new boy Byrne sprang to life in the fifth minute. Receving the ball on the right wing, the teenager stepped inside two defenders before curling a superb 25 yard strike left footed into the top left corner of the net, to give Mossley a great start and Byrne an early moment to savour in his first outing in a Mossley shirt.

Ossett, to their credit, braved out the shock of the early goal and caused a couple of moments of consternation in the Mossley box themselves. Collinge was alert to the danger though and made a couple of smart saves.

Mossley went close when Ben Richardson fired across the face of goal when he had opened a gap for himself on the left while Blackshaw's low cross saw Oates a fraction from scoring and Blackshaw also had a great chance from Richardson's cross but sliced his shot badly. Blackshaw was also unfortunate to be cynically brought down with a clear run on goal from halfway by Ossett defender Uttley who rather surprisingly didn't receive a card. A situation rectified in the second half for an equally cynical foul that received a yellow card but could easily have been red.

The second half saw Mossley in almost total control of the game, playing neat passing football all over the park, dragging the by now overworked Ossett defence around with them, but a killer second goal was elusive.

Chances came and went. Cavell Coo was flagged off-side as he popped the ball in the net and the Ossett goal lived a charmed life for much of the half.

Having so much possession and not killing the game off, Mossley left themselves open to the counter attacks and with ten minutes to go had a narrow escape. Skipper Graham Kay, playing his first home game of the season, superbly cleared off the line when an Ossett goal looked certain.

Within a minute of Kay's spectacular clearance the game was finally sealed. A terrific through ball by Byrne was collected at pace by Mike Oates who raced through to fire past a helpless Herriott from just inside the box.

With the game finally won, Mossley went in search of more goals. Substitute Danny Egan twice tested Herriott as Mossley's dominance became total. Fellow substitute Sam Hare was everywhere linking passes in midfield and Blackshaw and Byrne where proving too tricky to handle.

The third goal arrived in the 88th minute. Mossley won a free kick 20 yards out to the right of the Ossett goal and Lee Blackshaw calmly slotted the ball left footed beyond the Ossett wall and into the bottom left corner of the net.

With the game in stoppage time Mossley scored a fourth. Byrne firing the ball through a crowded penalty box with Oates getting the final touch. The final whistle sounded as Ossett kicked off to restart.

It was Mossley's best performance and result for several games and certainly gives the manager something to build upon with some winnable games ahead and the upper mid-table only a 'games in hand' win or two away.

Report by Wizard

pics by Smiffy