Mossley showed no sign of an inferiority complex against the Premier Division play off hopefuls and played some neat controlled football and proved unfazed by Ashton's more aggressive direct approach.

Mossley opened the game at a lively pace and earned a penalty in the 6th minute when Chris Rowney was felled by home skipper Chris Lynch. Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, Kayde Coppin's penalty skimmed the outside of the left hand post.

Mossley continued to probe for gaps against a strong and powerful Ashton back line, but It was the home side who struck first when Chris Baguley was allowed far too much room to pick his spot from 25 yards, curling a great shot into the top corner on 16 minutes.

Ashton enjoyed a spell on the front foot but failed to create any further chances and Mossley found an equaliser in the 25th minute. Kayde Coppin and Cavell Coo worked a neat move on the left and Coo teased his marker before whipping in a great cross for Gary Gee to rise unmarked to glance home a perfectly placed header. Defences were then dominant as neither side were able to force an opening through to the break.

Ashton opened the second half strongly but player boss Steve Halford and skipper Dave Young were in dominant form though Pearson was called on to make a save from Matty Barlow's 20 yard strike.

Ashton forged ahead again on 57 minutes, a scramble in Mossley's box saw the ball break to Barlow who's shot cannoned off the left hand post but Ashton reacted quickest to the rebound and Steve Johnson rifled home from the edge of the box.

Undeterred, Mossley replaced Sam Hind with Sam Madeley and presented the home defence with a different set of problems with Madeley and Coppin both going close.

The Lilywhites somehow survived a goalmouth skirmish with Ashton shots being blocked before Pearson fell onto the ball surrounded by his fellow defenders while at the other end the home side should have been reduced to ten men when Craig Robinson hauled back Coppin as the Mossley number nine broke clear on the edge of the box. As the last defender denying a clear goalscoring opportunity Robinson ought to have received a straight red card. Referee Mr Gibbons however had his own interpretation and gave nothing more than a free kick which Sam Madeley fired over the bar. Soon after Chris Rowney saw his curling free kick hit the bar with home keeper Smith beaten.

Adam Mather replaced Ash Young in the 65th minute and sixty seconds later the Lilywhites were deservedly level again. Madeley and Coppin caused havoc in the home box with the latter pulling the ball back for substitute Mather to lash home from 15 yards with practically his first touch.

The game swung from end to end but again neither side could force a breakthrough. Former Mossley loanee Scott Hogan being denied by Pearson while at the other end Sam Madeley broke clear in the final minute but chose to shoot first time when another touch would have put him in a better position. And so to the shoot out . . .

Ashton took the first penalty kick at the Lees Road end of the ground. Ben Smith fired home. Mossley's response was tucked away by Gary Gee. Scott Hogan scored Ashton's second but Mossley were dealt a blow when Sam Madeley blasted his effort off the front of the bar with Mossley's second kick. Fortunately for Mossley parity was restored as Matty Kosylo hammered Ashton's next penalty over the bar and Ryan Hopper confidently scored for Mossley. The next 12 penalties all found the net. Burke, Baker, Harrop, Caldecott, Johnson and Lynch all scoring for Ashton whilst alternately Rowney, Mather, Coppin, Dave Young, Halford (very cheekily indeed) and Brown all bagged for Mossley. The nineteenth and twentieth were the decisive penalties as Pearson dived to his right to save from Robinson before Mark Haslam strode up and confidently hammered home the winner. 9-8 thrilling!

Report by Wizard

Smiffy's pics

Smiffy's Penalty shoot out pics