Mossley had to dig deep to win a hard earned victory over a strong Salford City side at Seel Park on Saturday. It was an often backs to the wall performance as the experienced visitors gave the Mossley young guns a stern test after the Lilywhites had taken an early two goal lead.

Mossley were unchanged from the win at Garforth in midweek, though Peter Band replaced the injured Ben Fallows on the bench.

Salford pressed from the start and won a couple of early corners without troubling Mossley keeper Martin Pearson, but, after dominating the ball in the opening exchanges the visitors were rocked in Mossley's first forage forward with eight minutes on the clock. Salford defender Craig Flowers dallied on the ball and quick as a flash Cameron Darkwah disposessed him and raced forward before unleashing a brilliant shot past Salford's ex Mossley keeper Andy Robertson to give the Lilywhites the lead.

Salford were hurt but it didn't take long before Mossley hurt them again by doubling the damage. Darkwah again used his pace to outwit a Salford defender, racing down the left the speedy Mossley striker first drew Robertson and then passed the ball accross the face of goal for Danny Queeley to knock home his first Mossley goal into an empty net.

Soon after, Robertson was lucky to survive being caught out trying to dribble the ball in his own box as Darkwah all but wrestled the ball from him before the wildly eccentric Salford custodian somewhat luckily recovered.

Having earlier hit the post with a Mattie Burke shot Salford halved the defecit in the 33rd minute. The Ammies were awarded a free kick for a disputed foul by Nick Swirad and Adam Morning stepped up to strike home a cheeky set piece shot from 25 yards.

Mossley lost big centre back Keil O'Brien through injury at the interval with Peter Band his replacement and Salford went in search of an equaliser.

Mossley were put to the test in the second half as Salford forged wave after wave of attacks but to no avail. The Lilywhites defence, as they had at Garforth four days earlier, came under some heavy pressure, but, to a man, the Mossley defence performed heroically and in fact only suffered a couple of nervous moments,

Kayde Coppin replaced Joe Heap and soon after Harry Noon replaced Lee Constantine as Mossley looked to freshen things up and in what was by now a rare Mossley break Noon unable to get a clean shot away as the ball bobbled from a Darkwah cross.

It then got tougher for Mossley as Lee Rick was injured whilst scuffing a shot and was to be all but a passenger for the closing 15 minutes as Mossley had already used their quota of subs.

Martin Pearson came to Mossley's rescue in the closing minutes when Salford player-manager Rhodri Giggs turned through a gap forcing a great double save as the in form Mossley number 1 also kept out Martin Parker's effort from the rebound.

It was Mossley who had the last chance of the match though. Salford had just had a corner for which keeper Robertson joined the attack but his forage upfield came to nought and he had only just returned to his goal when Kayde Coppin raced clear on the left. The Mossley winger then unleashed a fierce drive that Robertson turned away brilliantly for a Mossley corner. Queeley and Darkwah then kept the ball in the corner up to the final whistle to earn Mossley their third successive victory and lift the side from bottom to 13th place in the table in the space of one week.

Report by Wizard

pics by Smiffy