It was a baptism of fire for what will inevitably prove to have been an under-strength Mossley side against a full strength Oldham Athletic at Seel Park on Wednesday evening.

Latics boasting all of their summer signings played neat possession football leaving the Lilywhites chasing shadows for lengthy periods.

However the scoreline, or at least the manner in which two of the three Latics goals came about, Mossley could do nothing about.

It was Mossley who opened brightly with Nathan Taylor, a lively customer up top. Unfortunately Taylor’s contribution lasted less than ten minutes when he was injured when colliding with visitors keeper Alex Cisak after attempting to nip onto a misplaced back-pass and the ex Clitheroe striker played no further part with Kayde Coppin an early substitute.

Oldham took the lead on 14 minutes when Gary Gee was harshly penalised by a linesman’s flag for a ‘soft’ foul on Tarkowski and Robbie Simpson crashed home the resulting spot kick.

Despite all of Oldham’s possession they didn’t overly trouble Martin Pearson’s goal although the Lilywhites ‘Players’ Player of the Year’ was called on to make one ‘special’ save from a powerful shot by Latics lively trialist striker.

Mossley offered little in attack but came close before the break when Mossley’s best player on the night Keil O’Brien landed an effort on the roof of the net after Cisak had fumbled Steve Yarwood’s right wing corner.

Oldham replaced their entire starting eleven at the break and doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart as one time New Mills striker Matt Smith fired home from the edge of the box after good work by the speedy N’Changama.

Oldham continued to dominate the ball but created few openings although Smith went close after a twisting run that saw his shot skew across the face of Mossley sub keeper Xavier Parisi’s goal.

Mossley having used several substitutes themselves still looked disjointed but following the final Lilywhites replacement, player boss Steve Halford’s arrival, Mossley enjoyed their best spell of the game. Coppin fired high and wide after creating an opening, trialist Ryan Stewart fired wide when well placed and Joe Heap nearly broke through after a typical mazy run.

Oldham added a fortuitous third goal in the closing moments when M’Changama’s shot took a wicked deflection to spin past Parisi.

Mossley boss Steve Halford will have learned much from this game but with several players still to return/arrive this was by no means a full strength Mossley team.

Report by Wizard

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