Mossley were held to a draw at Clitheroe on Saturday in a high tempo game that left the Lilywhites the more disappointed side not to have won, despite having left back Ben Fellows unluckily red carded for a second yellow with five minutes remaining.

Mossley gave a debut to new signing Mark Haslam on the right of midfield while Nathan Neequaye replaced Nathan Taylor as Tom Denton’s strike partner and Martin Pearson replaced the injured Peter Collinge in goal.
Despite playing into a strong head wind in the first half Mossley created openings from the off.

The first chance fell to new boy Haslam when he broke clear but home keeper Zach Hibbert blocked his shot. Denton met a similar fate shortly afterwards. Dan Queeley fired narrowly wide as did Haslam when presented with another chance.

Fortune favoured Clitheroe though on 18 minutes when Keil O’Brien turned a header past his own keeper from Dent’s right wing cross.

The home side played with a direct counter attacking style with Altrincham loanee Duncan Watmore a prominent threat. The home sides efforts on goal were long range and speculative otherwise and they caused Pearson few further problems.

Mossley on the other hand continued to open the home defence with Denton, Neequaye, Queeley and Ben Richardson all going close but not close enough.

With the wind now at their backs the second half began in the same vein as the first. Neequaye and Richardson spurning early chances as the home goal led a charmed life.

Denton had a header saved and Richardson was again thwarted as Mossley attacked at will.
The equaliser finally and thoroughly deservedly arrived on 57 minutes. Denton’s flick found Nathan Neequaye racing into the left channel and the recalled Mossley striker lashed a left foot thunderbolt past Hibbert and into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Mossley now looked the likely winner but chances became fewer as the home defence worked hard to keep the Lilywhites at bay, Smalley’s last ditch challenge to prevent Denton breaking clear being a good example of their central defensive efforts.

Despite dominating the game Mossley were forced to accept the single point following Ben Fallows unfortunate dismissal, his midfield foul following an earlier yellow card for a shirt pull. Steve Halford hurriedly replaced Denton and Clitheroe had a last go at winning the game, but their shooting was again wayward.

Ten man Mossley played out the remaining time plus four added minutes comfortably, even winning a corner but neither side troubled the opposition keeper in the closing minutes.

Report by Wizard