For the second Saturday in a row, Mossley were workmanlike rather than wonderful, but once again they were simply better than their opponents and took the three points from a dour game to extend their lead at the top of the Evo-Stik North to eight points.

The win marked a significant moment for Steve Halford’s men.  This was their eleventh win of the season; in 2011-12 the Lilywhites won just ten games in the entire season, and credit must go the manager’s recruitment having moulded a team that is enjoying playing together, the results of which are showing on the pitch.

Fourteen games played equals precisely a third of the season gone, and in Halford’s dreams he could not have envisaged that his side would have dropped just eight points.  The confidence that those results have engendered showed on Saturday when whilst not hitting the heights that they had in the six goal demolition of Wakefield in midweek, the team never looked like they would lose against the Dolly Blues.

Fourteen games played equals precisely a third of the season gone, and in Halford’s dreams he could not have envisaged that his side would have dropped just eight points.  The confidence that those results have engendered showed on Saturday when whilst not hitting the heights that they had in the six goal demolition of Wakefield in midweek, the team never looked like they would lose against the Dolly Blues.

Mossley named an unchanged line-up from the trip to Yorkshire and might have opened the scoring in the ninth minute when a cross from the left was met by Chris Rowney and his looping header dipped over the keeper and hit the crossbar, only to bounce away to safety.  However, moments later the ball fell to the midfielder again at the edge of the box, only for his dipping shot to clear the bar this time.

Haslam also had a shot just wide of the angle of the goal, then later played a lovely angled ball behind the defence for Coppin to run onto, only for the striker’s lobbed attempt to drift wide of the post.

It had been a bright opening twenty minutes from the home side, but after that their play became sloppy and it allowed Lancaster a chance to settle and gain a foothold in the game.   However, with Mossley’s defence looking strong, it meant that the game had very little of note.  Lancaster’s Darren Green should have done much better with his header just after the half hour though, heading wide from a dinked cross when he should have at least made Pearson work.

O’Brien had Mossley’s best chance when shooting low and hard, but the keeper saved well, holding the ball when he had to – Coppin was lurking for any spills.  Meanwhile, Swarbrick’s shot at the other end was pushed away by Pearson, but he had no support.

Mossley finally broke the deadlock with the first attack of the second half.  Coppin’s first effort was blocked but his second attempt from the edge of the area – a scuffed shot if truth be told – took a deflection and beat the dive of MacDonald, nestling into the corner.

Minutes later Rowney curled a shot around the post from the 18 yard box as Mossley looked to take advantage.  Coppin then hit the post when volleying a long throw in pushed away by the keeper.

They did finally double their lead on 78 minutes when Haslam was clumsily brought down at the edge of the area.  Mather took the free kick this time and MacDonald couldn’t hold onto his low effort.  Madeley was in the right place at the right time and poked home his seventh goal of the season.

And that was that.  Mossley closed out the game, allowing Lancaster just one chance in the 91st minute that Pearson saved well.  Their next target will be to surpass the 45 points they earned last season.  They are on 34 now.  Don’t bet against them meeting that by the end of November.

Report by Jonathan Haggart

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