Mossley enjoyed an excellent and fully merited Doodson Sport Cup victory over neighbours Curzon Ashton at Seel Park on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites hard working young side never allowed Curzon time on the ball and when in possession played with passion, pace and no little skill to tear a strong Curzon line up apart in a thoroughly one sided first half.

Mossley manager shuffled the squad a little for this game. Youth team graduate Ben McNamara made an impressive debut in central midfield while Jay Walcott came in front for the slightly injured Cameron Darkwah. The diminutive Walcott, like McNamara, had a fine game. Peter Band returned to a central defensive role in place of Steve Halford while Dan Queeley got the nod over Joe Heap on the left wing. Tom Ingham was preferred to Nick Swirad at right back.

The catalyst for most of Mossley’s best moves came down the right wing thanks to the blistering pace and skill of Kayde Coppin and wing back Tom Ingham who both enjoyed excellent performances.

Mossley had created several chances in the opening twenty minutes before taking a deserved lead on 23 minutes. Coppin and Walcott combined brilliantly on the right before pulling the ball back for Lee Constantine to crash home from the edge of the box. A similar move a few minutes earlier had seen Curzon clear off the line.

At the other end Curzon’s only chance fell to Lee Blackshaw but Martin Pearson saved well to his left.
Mossley doubled the lead in the 28th minute when Cavell Coo danced past a couple of tackles inside the box to fire home.

Queeley was then denied by an acrobatic save by Ollerenshaw as Mossley threatened to run riot.
Curzon came more into the game in the second period and had a couple of chances spurned by Steve Settle while a long range Jordan Goodeve effort came back off the far post.

Mossley played the second half mostly on the break and were unlucky not to score on several occasions. Coppin flashed a couple of fierce shots narrowly off target. Keil O’Brien flashed a powerful header just over the bar and Ollerenshaw had to be alert to deny Queeley, Lee Rick and Walcott.

In the end Mossley comfortably saw the clock down on an excellent display that augers well for the forthcoming games while stretching the current unbeaten run to five games.

Report by Wizard

pics by Smiffy