Despite missing several regular players for this trip to Bacup Borough, Mossley still proved too strong for the North West Counties League side and won comfortably with all the goals coming in a mostly one sided first half.
Mossley played the ball along the ground in fine style keeping possession well and fighting hard to win it back on the occasions that Bacup had the ball.

Nathan Taylor missed a good chance early on when Steve yarwood played him through but home keeper Schofield blocked his effort.

Mossley weren’t to be denied for long though and took the lead on 14 minutes. Gary Gee robbed a Bacup player in midfield and his angled run and deep cross was headed home at the far post by Sam Hind for his first Mossley goal.

Bacup were struggling to cope with the pace and movement of Taylor and Hind and the Lilywhites doubled their lead on 32 minutes when Shane Birtles was dragged back when clean through on goal for a clear penalty. Nathan Taylor stepped up to send Schofield the wrong way from the spot.

Mossley conceded a soft goal on 36 minutes when keeper Xavier Parisi’s clearance cannoned back off Adam Dale and looped back into the Mossley net.

Mossley quickly recovered and added a third goal two minutes later. Kris King’s cross from the left was spilled by keeper Schofield and Steve Yarwood had the simple task of knocking the ball into the empty net.

Early in the second half Mossley used all their outfield substitutes and the game became more fragmented thereafter.

Parisi saved well from Britoris in a rare Bacup raid while skipper for the day Keil O’Brien went on a mazy run from his own half, beating several Bacup players before shooting harmlessly at Bacup’s second half keeper Mark Clapham.

Yarwood, BenFallows and Kayde Coppin all fired over the bar from distance for Mossley and wingers Sam Madeley and debutant trialist Josh Stott both put in decent crosses that weren’t converted as the game fizzled out in the closing stages.

Report by Wizard