Mossley made a spectacular return to form with a dramatic second half comeback to leapfrog opponents Trafford in the race for the play-offs. Trailing by two goals at the break Mossley found their recently absent goalscoring touch to hit three great goals without response in a one sided second period.

The newly re-signed Lee Rick made his return debut in central midfield while Chris Denham and Chris Brown were both recalled to the starting line up to great effect.

With the wind in their favour Trafford were quickly out of the blocks and they won an early fruitless corner before Mossley got into gear. The Lilywhites playing some neat and well controlled football which saw Danny Broadbent and Lee Rick both go close, before the best move of the half finished with Adam Mather firing disappoointingly wide from a good position.

Mossley's recent dip looked to be compounded as Trafford took the lead somewhat against the run of play in the 17th minute. The visitors won a corner on the right and Mossley keeper Russell Saunders misjudged the flight of Andy Smart's well taken in-swinger which looked destined for the net before former Mossley striker Michael Oates appeared at the far post to nod the ball home from just about on the goal line.

Worse was to come for Mossley as Trafford began to take control of the game when, on 24 minutes, left back Andy Smart placed a well struck shot just inside Saunders left hand post from outside the box to double Trafford's lead.

Having seemingly done the hard work Trafford then proverbially 'shot themselves in the foot' just two minutes later when one time Mossley midfielder Melford Knight needlessly lunged two footed into Chris Denham from behind and was immediately shown the red card by the perfectly positioned referee.

Nonplused by their reduction in numbers, Trafford continued to force the pace. They might have scored a third but skipper Nia Bayunu fired high over the bar from a great position. However, Trafford looked to be totally in control of the game as the sides went in at the break.

Whatever player-boss Steve Halford said to his players at half time most definitely worked, despite an injury enforced half time substitution that saw Sam Hind replace Danny Broadbent.

Within two minutes of the restart Mossley had a foot-hold back in the game. Hind flicked a header on to Sam Madeley, who's deft back heel into the path of Adam Mather saw the left midfielder fire home with a precise shot from the edge of the box. Game on!

Mossley continued to press as Trafford's defending became more desperate and the increasingly inevitable equaliser finally came on 61 minutes as Chris Denham hammered home from ten yards after Trafford keeper Read had palmed away Madeley's effort amid another scramble in the Trafford box.

Trafford won a corner quickly after the restart but Mossley defended well and broke quickly again putting Trafford on the back foot. With Mossley pressure continuing there looked only one outcome and that outcome duly came to pass in the 76th minute. Chris Brown fed a perfect ball from the right between centre half and full back finding Chris Denham with his back to goal. The clever forward spun quickly and hammered the ball past Read at his near post to send the recently suffering Mossley fans into jubilation.

Mossley looked far more likely to add a fourth than did Trafford to equalise in the remaining time, though there was a last minute fright when Saunders was forced to grasp the ball in a crowded area as Trafford swung in a final desperate corner kick.

The dramatic nature of the comeback and the resulting boost in confidence will hopefully now galvanize Mossley to put a winning run together in this increasingly vital stage of the season.

Report by Wizard

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