Despite creating enough chances to win more than one game Mossley failed to take maximum points against managerless Salford City at Seel Park on Saturday. Missed chances and two somewhat flook goals conceded being the only reason Mossley failed to win this particular 'derby' match which was witnessed by Mossley legend Eamonn O'Keefe.

Mossley boss Steve Halford gave debuts to new signings Russell Saunders and Chris Denham while another recent acquisition Tyron Sealey was amongst the substitutes. Top scorer Kayde Coppin was also named on the bench.

It was the visitors who opened the brighter, keeping a high defensive line and pressing Mossley into their own half without creating anything resembling an opening, but, once Mossley did get on the ball they found gaps in the visitors rearguard which they started to exploit.

Sam Hind had the best of Mossley's early chances but was twice denied by Salford keeper Branagan before being third time lucky. New boy Denham played a precision through ball for Hind to chase. Branagan blocked his first effort but was in the right place to slot home the rebound with the keeper stranded.

Sam Madeley had a great chance to double the lead when he raced through a gap but he shot tamely at Branagan who would undoubtedly have been beaten by a chipped shot and Hind fired over from another great position. At the other end Saunders was called upon to tip Abadaki's drive onto the post and away to safety, the new custodian handling well throughout on his debut.

Mossley looked likely to add a second goal with every attack but the Lilywhites continued to be wasteful in front of goal and the dominant home side were rocked by a bizarre equaliser in the 36th minute. Ash Young was challenged by Danny White some 30 yards out and a horrible ricochet saw the ball somehow loop in the air beyond Saunders and drop in to the net off a post to level matters much against the run of play.

Mossley immediately pressed forward again and finally forged ahead for a second time two minutes before the break. Mossley won a corner on the left and when the cross came in Madeley was clearly held by the keeper as he attempted to reach for a header, but the ball deflected to Sam Hind to nod home his second goal from six yards, though it would surely have been a penalty had he not scored.

The second half opened in lively fashion with both sides trying to force the issue but Mossley were again rocked by a second equaliser. Salford won a left wing corner, the ball arrived low at the near post, Nathan McDonald back heeled the ball between two Mossley defenders and the ball somehow squirmed it's way over the line despite Dave Young's attempt to clear.

Mossley replaced Hind and Madeley with Coppin and Sealey and the impressive Chris Denham brought a flying save out of Branagan with a fine volley. Sealey fired across goal when well placed after more good work by Denham and Mossley's third substitute Chris Rowney fired over when well placed.

Salford defended deeper and deeper but became more impenetrable as the game wore on but Mossley should surely have won the game with just five minutes remaining. Sealey did well to beat two defenders on the left and his low cross was met by Kayde Coppin just ten yards out with the goal at his mercy, but, Mossley's top scorer somehow got under his shot and fired over the bar with his usually trusty left boot and the score-line remained unaffected.

Report by Wizard

Smiffy's Pics