Mossley have only themselves to blame for their first League defeat of the season, surrendering a half time lead to go down 3-2 to old rivals Clitheroe at Seel Park on Tuesday evening.

Mossley's slender one goal first half advantage was poor reward for the home side who looked comfortably in control of the game. Showing the same desire and commintmenmt that had proved so fruitful at Farsley on Saturday, Mossley created enough scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes to have had the game sewn up having played some great attacking football with wide players Cavell Coo and Adam Mather causing havoc on the flanks and Sam Hind and Kayde Coppin putting in another strong shift.

 

Hind had Mossley's best chance of the opening quarter but was denied by a great blocking save from impressive Turkish goalkeeper Hakan Burton. However, Hind wasn't to be denied as in the 31st minute, the ex Glossop North End striker bagged his first competitive goal for the club when he found an opening on the right to crash the ball home from the edge of the box.

Mossley continued to play some fluid football and surely ought to have gone two up but Cavell Coo somehow managed to clear the bar with a power header from only a yard out when a gentle nod would have sufficed.

Mossley were to rue the missed chances as Clitheroe fortuitously found themselves level three minutes after the restart as the hand of fate reared it's ugly head. Mossley won a free kick on half way. Player boss Steve Halford elected to take a quick one. Unfortunately, his pass which was aimed to the left wing hit the referee and bounced into the path of a Clitheroe player. Two passes later Connor Smith tapped home to level matters.

Mossley continued to press but Clitheroe proved that they are were threat on the break meaning the Lilywhites defenders were never able to totally relax.

Mossley were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position visitors keeper Burton made a fantastic one handed save to prevent Dave Young's powerful free kick from flying in the top corner.

Disaster struck again for Mossley in the 65th minute and again it was Halford who was the unfortunate culprit when he needlessly pushed the lively Alex Johnson to give Clitheroe a free kick just outside the Mossley box. The placed kick was touched off to Danny Bell and his curling shot found the top corner beyond Martin Pearson's despairing dive.

Amazingly, three minutes later Clitheroe went 3-1 up when Mossley failed to clear their lines and Johnson popped up in the right place for the visitors to increase their still surprising lead.

Mossley pushed forward in search of a comeback and Burton made another fine save to deny Kayde Coppin before Mossley got half way there on 73 minutes when Hind scored his second, crouching to head home substitute Nathan Taylor's deep cross from the left.

Mossley tried hard to press for what would still have been a deserved equaliserbut were thwarted time and again by Burton and his defenders and the visitors were able to play the clock down with the aid of an overly eager assistant's flag and a little flagrant time wasting to clinch a surprise victory and leave Mossley frustrated at what could have been a relatively comfortable win.

Report by Wizard

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