Mossley might have scored within 15 seconds, when Chris Rowney burst into the box, riding two tackles.  His shot across the face of goal was pulled wide, but not so wide that Sam Madeley’s slide could fashion an angle that would turn it goalwards, and he hit the side netting.

Some skirmishing followed as the game settled, until the 16 minute when Mossley took the lead.  Sam Hind charged down an attempted clearance in the box, but was left with plenty to do as although he was clear on goal, he was right of goal.  It needed a first time and accurate cut pass to pick out Adam Mather, and that is exactly what Hind provided so Mather could tap home.

Five minutes later is was 2-0, this time with Mark Haslam claiming the assist.  His deep swirling cross saw the goalkeeper and Band go up for the ball only for both of them to miss it and the ball hit Mather, lurking behind them, and crossed the line. 

It wasn’t long until it was 3-0, when two minutes later Rowney was given plenty of time to pick a pass in midfield.  Hind held his run and then latched onto Rowney’s ball over the full back before driving it under the keeper.
FC kept plugging away and Amadi’s driving run from halfway into the Mossley box forced a wonderfully timed sliding tackle from Young, whilst Daniels looked to have a good claim for a penalty when his jinking run was halted in the box having pinched the ball from Haslam.  However, the referee disagreed.  Despite the visitors efforts though, the crowd sensed at half time that further goals would come from the Lilywhites.

For fifteen minutes after the break, the action suggested that assessment was correct as a Young free kick was saved, a Mather looped effort just went wide and a Madeley forced a good save from the keeper.  But just after the hour mark, Mossley simply switched off, and FC clawed their way back into the game.

Neville drove wide whilst McGrath forced an excellent save from Pearson, pushing his strong 12 yard shot wide.  Time was running out though, and when Amadi deflected a cross-cum-shot into the net with 7 minutes left, it still felt like a consolation.

However, with FC now running hot and Mossley cold, pressure increased, and the referee awarded a penalty for handball just a minute later as the ball bobbled up as Amadi dribbled into the box and hit an arm.  Amadi himself despatched the spot kick.  Could they come back from three down again?  Nerves were jangling.

Gee had a chance to seal it for Mossley but scuffed his shot from the edge of the box, so when the ball went for a corner in the last minute of injury time the FC goalkeeper was up in the Mossley box hoping for some good fortune.  However the ball was cleared for another corner, and the referee felt that that was enough, saving the home side from defending another flag kick and confirming a quarter final place.

Report by Jonathan Haggart