Mossley were twice pegged back by play off rivals New Mills at Church Lane on Easter Monday despite another hard working and attacking team performance.

With an unchanged starting line up and enjoying first use of the Church Lane slope the Lilywhites were fast out of the blocks, closing down the big and physical Millers at every challenge and playing all the football on a good surface though a gusty wind played havoc with any high balls.

Sam Madeley, Kayde Coppin, Gary Gee and Chris Denham all created early openings with the experienced and highly rated Millers side forced into some desperate defending.

In a rare Millers raid Chris Luby claimed a penalty when he was out-muscled by Dave Young in a challenge in the box but it was Mossley were fully deserving of the lead they took in the 23rd minute.

The Lilywhites moved the ball from defence to attack at pace and Chris Denham beat his marker before firing home across the front of Millers keeper David Stevenson from 20 yards.

Mossley were sharp and eager for the ball throughout the remainder of the half with a couple of further chances going begging. However, it the home side found an undeserved equaliser just two minutes after the break. Luby appeared to run into Dave Young and the overly fussy referee awarded the Milllers a free kick around 25 yards out and left back David Fitzpatrick curled a sweet shot around the Mossley wall and past the dive of Russ Saunders.

The Millers joy was short lived though when just three minutes later Mossley regained the lead. Denham played a through ball for Sam Madeley to chase alongside a Millers defender but it was Madeley who got his foot to the ball first and steered a great finish past the stranded Stevenson.

New Mills upped their game for the first time in the match and Saunders was called into positive action more than once as the home side looked for openings around the Mossley box.

It was pressure that finally paid off in the 71st minute but with a huge element of fortune about it. Daniel Douglas-Pringle hit a long range shot which took a wicked deflection off Dave Young before spinning past the despairing Saunders for the equaliser.

The game then swung from end to end with both sides looking for a winning goal. Denham, Coppin and Ash Young all having half chances but the miss of the game came in the last minute when Douglas-Pringle blasted over the bar from a great position to leave the day’s honours shared.

Report by Wizard