Mossley finally returned to winning ways in the Evo-stik League at Seel Park on Tuesday night when beating Ossett Town 3-2. This after being pegged back from a two goal lead before half time time to two converted penalties.

Steve Halford made several changes from the 1-1 draw at Trafford on Saturday, mostly positional, as the Lilywhites employed a different formation than recent games. Halford left himself out of the 16 and Ben Fallows came in at left back, Keil O'Brien returned from suspension with Joe Heap recalled to the starting 11. Danny Queeley moved off the left wing to partner Tom Denton up front.

Mossley attacked from the start with Queeley and Denton soon amongst the thick of the action and the Lilywhites opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Joe Heap darted into the box only to be fouled by Ryan White and Tom Denton stepped up to hammer home from the penalty spot.

Two minutes later Mossley doubled their lead. Danny Queeley capitalizing to score when a mix up between visitors skipper Mark Haran and former Mossley keeper Ashley Connor saw the latter spill the ball at the Mossley forward's feet. Connor then needed lengthy treatment following the goal as he hurt himself in the melee.

Mossley were totally in control and enjoyed a spell of controlled pass and move football, but, when they needlessly lost possession in midfield Ossett broke and Peter Band conceded a penalty bringing down Shane Kelsey. Lee Garside rifled home the spot kick, 2-1.

Ossett now raised their game and enjoyed some possession around the Mossley box but had very few chances to shoot and when they did they were off target with Martin Pearson's goal relatively untroubled, barring a solitary diving save.

Ossett's defence was standing firm to Mossley pressure as Joe Heap made a nuisance of himself with some typical mazy runs while Queeley and Denton were still a thorn in Ossett's collective side.

However, when Ossett broke through on the left four minutes before the interval, Mark Haslam clipped the heel of Neil Towler and Ossett were awarded a second penalty. Mossley's fourth soft penalty conceded in the last three games. Again up stepped Lee Garside to send Pearson the wrong way for a second time, 2-2.

The second half saw Ossett, seemingly happy with the score-line, sit back allowing Mossley to come on to them. The visitors were proving stubborn to break down though. Denton was a whisker away from getting on the end of Heap's low cross and Heap also came close himself on a couple of occasions.

Mossley finally edged in front again on 69 minutes. Danny Hudson had just replaced Queeley when Denton worked a move on the right and played a great ball through for Ben Richardson. The Mossley midfielder took a heavy first touch but still got to the ball before keeper Connor only to see his effort loop onto the crossbar. Richardson was then alert enough to react first to the rebound and head the ball home unchallenged from a yard out.

Ossett's defensive game plan now ended, they tried to find a way forward but threatened rarely as Mossley controlled the midfield and the Lilywhites defence dominated the Ossett forwards.

Mossley created a number of chances thereafter. Hudson fired powerfully over the bar when put clear and fellow substitute Ben McNamara, on for Heap, shot straight at Connor when he scampered through a defensive gap. Hudson again went close after a skilful run on the left and substitute Kayde Coppin and Denton again, almost added to the advantage as the Lilywhites finished in the ascendancy with Ossett unable to find any way back into the game.

Mossley played out the last few minutes with ten men after Ben Richardson struggled off with a shoulder injury after a collison with Connor, but it didn't prevent Mossley from holding on to the lead and earning their first League victory of 2012 and their first three point haul under Steve Halford's management after a recent run of draws.

Report by Wizard

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