A large number of missed chances in a totally one sided first half would inevitably prove costly to Mossley, as the Lilywhites were forced to settle for a point against what was one of the poorest teams to visit Seel Park this season.

Steve Halford was again able to name an unchanged starting line up with the only change being among the substitutes where Danny Hudson replaced Alex Byrne on the bench.

After a slow start by both teams the game came to life in the 15th minute when Dan Queeley fed Nathan Neequaye down the left and the latter hit an inch perfect cross for Tom Denton to climb highest and head home from six yards.

From there-on-in the chances started to flow as Mossley threatened to run riot. A timely tackle by on loan Harrogate's impressive debutant Jack Fisher denied Neequaye a run on goal, Denton headed narrowly over as did Halford on two separate occasions before Ben Richardson looked a certain scorer as he burst in from the left only to see goalbound efforts blocked three times, twice by keeper Craig Parry and once by Rail player manager Nigel Danby to somehow deny the Mossley midfielder.

Neequaye was injured shortly before the interval and Danny Hudson replaced him for the second period and Harrogate created their best chance in the opening moments of the half when Ward broke through but his looping effort landed on the roof of the net. Mossley continued to rack up the chances after this as Parry saved well to deny a powerful drive by Hudson.

Martin Pearson was called into serious action for just about the first time in the game when he got down sharply to save from Ward and just after the hour mark Rail won a corner on Mossley's right. When the ball cleared a crowded Mossley box Moloney reacted quickest to drive back across goal only for the ball to hit Tom Denton's arm from point blank range. The assistant referee placed his flag across his chest and an extremely harsh penalty was awarded in the visitors favour. Moloney stepped up to send Pearson the wrong way from the spot for an unlikely equalizer.

Mossley pressed hard for a winner, Hudson again twice went close while Halford saw his powerful goalbound header cleared off the line for another Mossley corner.

With moments remaining Harrogate broke away from yet another Mossley corner and when the ball found Rail substitute Colin Hunter just outside the box he fired a great shot that was destined for the top corner of the Mossley net only for Martin Pearson to make a wonder save and deny the visitors what would have been a thoroughly undeserved victory.

As for Mossley, creating chances doesn't appear to be a problem but converting them currently is, and with Nathan Neequaye likely to be sidelined with a recurrence of his ankle injury and Danny Hudson's loan spell now expired, options to partner Tom Denton up front look somewhat limited at the moment. It will be intriguing to know what will be done to rectify the problem.

Report by Wizard

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