Both teams had a few changes or a new system, and the start of the game saw them trying to get used to their own set up as well as that as the opposition. However, a sloppy ball out of defence allowed Mossley to take the lead on 16 minutes. Jason Gorton intercepted and slid a slide rule pass through the back line for Coppin to run onto. The in-form striker made no mistake, slipping the ball under the keeper to give the Lillywhites the lead.

Coppin had a good chance shortly afterwards, forcing a double fisted save out of Spencer from his fierce effort.
The home side huffed and puffed around the area, but couldn’t force a chance, then suddenly Coppin was presented with a gilt edged opportunity to double the lead when another poor pass in defence gave him a run at goal again. This time a tackle from behind appeared to have thwarted him, but the tackle also felled the striker and despite only muted claims, the spot kick was given. Coppin converted like a man full of confidence.

FCUM would have been desperate for a goal before half time, and big striker Amadi should have done better with a Wright cross, but somehow headed wide from six yards.

Mossley started the second half confidently. Although FCUM had brought on their rested main frontman Mike Norton, they were still dealing with the home side’s probings confidently; Roca’s high and wide shot the closest they came before Mossley took a three goal lead.

In the 61st minute Coppin held the ball up, awaiting support, before advancing down the left side and arrowing a pinpoint cross to Ash Young. Although the ball was a foot or so off the floor, Young guided the ball into the top corner to send the Mossley fans into dreamland.

Gradually though, FCUM wound it up and Mossley got deeper and deeper and Pearson had to push over a looping ball that had deflected off O’Brien.

In the 73rd minute, the home side did net when the ball was worked down the left and a drilled cross was turned in by Amadi. Even then though, celebrations were muted.

Not so five minutes later when Pearson inexplicably rushed off his line to try and punch the ball on the penalty spot when it had been launched forward by the FCUM defence. Almost everyone but Pearson could see what was coming, as the tall Amadi beat him to the ball and back headed it into the empty net.

Suddenly the home side believed again but Halford brought himself on and that change in personnel worked as Mossley played further forward, inviting less pressure on themselves with only McGrath’s curling shot endangering their lead.

They had not reckoned with Jerome Wright though, who when presented with a free kick 25 yards out in the final minute drove it low past the wall and beat Pearson at his near post to break Mossley hearts. It might have been worse though, as into injury time Pearson, who might have been at fault for the leveller too, redeemed himself by pushing Amadi’s point-blank-range header wide. Meanwhile a Gorton shot from the edge of the area just went wide.

Once the Mossley players had dragged themselves off the ground, they were given a standing ovation by their supporters. They’d earned it, and will have to do it all again in the replay at Seel Park on Tuesday.

Report by Johnathan Haggart

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