New joint Mossley bosses Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison were given another opportunity to have a look at players as they assemble their squad for the new season.

New names included in the Lilywhites squad at the newly rebranded Bacup & Rossendale Borough on Saturday were centre forward Charlie Weir, teenage striker Dougie Carroll, 2008 Mossley trialist Brian Matthews and central defender Andy Maclean.

Mossley were an attacking threat throughout the game but tended to overplay in the final third so clear chances were at a premium. Borough were content to play on the break and the ploy proved successful when they took a 23rd minute lead through their big number 9 Artjoms Butorins who received a pass in the right channel from Danny Cocks before planting the ball in the far corner of the net from ten yards.

Mossley had the ball in the net twice in the first half through Brian Matthews but both efforts were ruled out for off-side while Shaun Williams, Kevin McGrath and Weir all went close to opening Mossley's account.

The game boiled over on the stroke of half time with one time Mossley player Gareth Wager the seeming instigator but tempers were calmed following the half time whistle and the second half was played with less aggression from the Bacup skipper who to be fair had an otherwise decent game.

Mossley made their substitutions gradually through the second half and became more of a dominat force as the game progressed into the final thirty minutes. The Orange clad Lilywhites found a deserved equaliser in the 67th minute. The lively Dougie Carroll won a corner on the left. Callam Gardner curled the ball to the far post and former maine Road centre back Kevin McGrath arrived unmarked at the far post to crash the ball home from close range.

Mossley had three chances to win the game in the closing stages. Carroll headed against the post from John Bennett's left wing cross. Gardner then brought a decent save out of the Bacup keeper with a curling 20 yard effort and Weir fired narrowly over with the last kick of the match to leave the scores level at the finish.

Report by Wizard