On a blisteringly hot afternoon at Seel Park on Saturday the Lilywhites were held to 1-1 draw by a stubborn and resilient Prescot Cables side.

Manager Gareth McClelland made just one change from the side that beat Curzon on Tuesday with Alex Byrne returning to the starting line up in place of Ben McNamara. Cavell Coo passed a late fitness test while Cameron Darkwah was again an injury absentee.

It was a game that Mossley ought to have won but too many players had something of an off day and despite having all the game’s best chances they were forced to settle for a point.

Prescot opened the game well and forced a couple of early corners that came to nothing. Mossley then had the best chance of the opening spell when Jay Walcott was played through a gap but his touch to go around the keeper was too heavy and the angle was gone.

Prescot opened the scoring in the 37th minute when a neat one-two near the edge of the box gave Joe Gibiliru the space to fire the Merseysiders into the lead.

It was a short lived advantage though as Mossley pulled level just three minutes later. Lee Rick’s perfect cross was nodded home at the far post by the giant figure of Keil O’Brien for his first goal in Mossley colours.

Mossley lost skipper Peter Band who was taken unwell at the interval and Steve Halford came on as his replacement.

Prescot enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half but created just about nothing. Mossley were their own worst enemies with a multitude of passes going astray as the Lilywhites failed to replicate the free flowing football of a few days earlier.

Prescot were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when right back Tony Sayer was red cared for a second bookable offence as he brought down Dan Queeley.

Queeley then had Mossley’s best chance but his shot on the turn brought a fine point blank save from visitors keeper Michael Langley.

Mossley had another chance in the closing moments when substitute Joe Heap opened up the Prescot defence but he slightly screwed his shot and Leon Clowes was able to clear off the line.

Report by Wizard