Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Mossley were unable to turn their superiority into goals at a wet and muddy Seel Park on Saturday against a stubborn Clitheroe side hell-bent on keeping the Lilywhites marauding forwards at bay.

That they succeeded was as much down to the difficult playing conditions as it was any great quality in the visitors often overworked back-line.

Gareth McClelland’s side was without Ben Richardson and Tom Ingham through injury with Ben McNamara partnering Lee Rick in central midfield. Peter Band returned to the side following suspension with Mike Jones returning to the bench. Nathan Neequaye was given the nod over Osebi Abadaki to partner new boy Tom Denton up front.

Mossley pressed from the start but the final ball into the danger area was often a poor one after some neat approach play had promised more.

Tom Denton and Nathan Neequaye were victims of some over zealous late challenges that often went unpunished by some somewhat lenient refereeing.

Neequaye was the victim of a late challenge that ended his afternoon’s football on 35 minutes. The referee missed the incident as he followed the ball and the Mossley striker was replaced by Abadaki on 35 minutes.

From that moment on Abadaki looked Mossley’s greatest goal-threat though Denton, who now looks to be settling into the side after his recent arrival from Wakefield, also made a good contribution, particularly in the second half when his hold up play and distribution was of good quality.

Chances were at a premium throughout though as defences were generally dominant and Mossley were hit by a further injury when Ben McNamara was hurt. Rob Flint making his first appearance since returning from a brief spell with Trafford came in at right back with Cavell Coo switching to midfield.

Mossley came closest when a Cavell Coo run and shot saw the ball fly narrowly wide of the left upright while a similar fate awaited Denton as his delicate chip beat the keeper and a covering defender but also went just wide of the same post. Abadaki’s probing runs were often held up by the sticky pitch and the several corners that he won came to naught as the delivery was too often less than top quality.

At the other end Clitheroe had a goal chalked off for an obvious off-side and the visitors also saw another effort fly across the face of the Mossley goal in the closing minutes.

The Lilywhites defence was otherwise unruffled, with Keil O’Brien, the returning Peter Band, Steve Halford and firstly Coo and later Flint, all in good form.

In the end Clitheroe will be far happier with the point gained but there were plenty of positives from a Mossley perspective particularly Tom Denton’s second half showing which looks like it will pay dividends for the Lilywhites sooner rather than later.

Report by Wizard

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