For the second successive match Mossley failed to beat a team that they had dominated for possession, but again found the finishing touch to some neat approach play elusive.

The Lilywhites got off to the worst possible start. Losing the ball in midfield the ball broke to Radcliffe's right wing, Aaron Chalmers needlessly gave away a foul. Alastair Brown whipped in the resultant free kick and Shaun Connor (twin brother of Mossley's Mark) stole in at the far post to crash home from close range.

Boro's game plan was now set. Two banks of four defending deep with the hard working Roscoe and Ward left up top to forage for scraps from clearances.

The visitors must have been delighted that Mossley then chose to play in front of them, constantly trying to probe through midfield, lacking any width and constantly being thwarted when it came to actually getting the ball in the Boro box.

Despite their almost total dominance of possession the Lilywhites attack was a damp squib, lacking both penetration and ideas on how to break down the visitors overworked defence leaving Boro keeper Nick Culkin surprsingly underworked.

With the game taking place almost entirely between the half way and edge of Boro's penalty area there were few chances created bar a couple of long distance efforts and crosses from deep that were easily cleared.

It was as much in relief as joy when Mossley finally found the equaliser in the 69th minute. Subsitute Mike Fish picked up a long ball from midfield out on the right took one touch then hit a dipping volley that gave Culkin no chance.

It might have been two a minute later when Culkin was suddenly called into action to make a fine double save and then at the other end Boro sub Ricardo Brandao hit a dipping 25 yarder that Peter Collinge did well to tip over the bar as the game suddenly became stretched.

In the end Boro deserved their point for the way they took their only clear chance of the game and defended so well, while Mossley will again be disappointed not to have collected all three points once again and four games still seek their first League victory of the season.

Report by Wizard

pics by Smiffy