Mossley dominated Cables at Valerie Park on Saturday and deservedly took the points that saw them reach the summit of the Evo-Stik North, but despite bossing possession they had to come from behind to do it.

Steve Halford switched back from last week’s 4-4-2 to the more familiar 3-5-2, restoring himself to the line up, with Ashley Young finally making his debut after a frustrating wait for international clearance and Gavin Salmon replacing injured Sam Hind up front.

Mossley started brightly – Martin Pearson in goal didn’t have a touch until the seventh minute by which time Gorton & Halford had already been agonisingly close to a whipped free kick, the ball just a millimetre away from both their heads. 

This was to be story of the first half, the Lillywhites controlling the ball but not actually forcing their former keeper Xavier Parisi into a save.   Kayde Coppin had an excellent game, buzzing around the back four of Prescot causing them problems all afternoon with his off the ball running, pace and control.  But they just couldn’t create a major chance.

Adam Mather headed over, the cross just behind him so he couldn’t angle the effort.  Salmon’s poked effort – offside as it turned out – was well saved at the near post.  Coppin’s shot bounced dangerously in front of Parisi, and the keeper had to gather at the second attempt. Jason Gorton was on the stretch as he latched onto Dave Young’s long ball but was stretching for the shot and could only lift it into Parisi’s arms.

Indeed, it was Prescot’s Glyn Barker who was the only man to put the ball in the net in the half when smashing a shot past Pearson after seemingly taking advantage of Dave Young hesitation, allowing the ball to bounce past him.  Young was fortunate that the referee saw a teeniest of tugs on him and had already blown as Barker hit the shot.

However, Young wasn’t so lucky less than a minute into the second half when he was caught in two minds, unsure whether to pass back to his keeper or turn out of trouble with Barker on his shoulder.  Instead, the mind fuddle caused him to stand on the ball, fall over, and gift a clear run on goal to Barker.  He made no mistake.

Credit to Mossley though, the blow of conceding sharpened their edges up front, and suddenly their dominance of possession was providing a real threat on goal.  A looping header from Gorton was well tapped over by Parisi, but on 55 minutes the leveller did come.

The midfield slipped a ball between full back and centre half and Kayde Coppin spun at the corner of the 6 yard box and shot across the keeper into the far corner.  It was a goal his performance had deserved.

5 minutes later, the visitors had the lead.  A clumsy tackle on Mather gave away a free kick at the corner of the 18 yard box.  Banda received a yellow card and treatment for his sin, and his absence at the free kick caused confusion in the home ranks.  Dave Young swung in a low cross that was allowed to bounce in the box and then into the far corner of the net.  No-one celebrated more than Young, delighted his error had been rectified.

In the remainder of the game, Mossley looked more like extending their lead than Prescot drawing level.  Richardson had a shot from an angle saved at the near post, Halford had a goalwards header comfortably cleared off the line and closest of all Halford’s diving header from Mather’s cross hit the post and bounced away.

An extra goal would have made it more comfortable, but who’s complaining?  Last season Mossley won ten games in total, this season they already have half that from six games.  They will travel to Radcliffe Borough next Saturday with confidence.

Report by Jonathan Haggart