Despite producing their best performance of the season so far Mossley were thankful to substitute Danny Broadbent for a superb last minute equaliser to restore parity against old rivals Clitheroe at Seel Park on Tuesday in a game that Mossley will feel they should have won comfortably.

The Lilywhites dominated possession for long periods but were left frustrated by missed opportunities and a 'man of the match' performance by visiting keeper Richie Mottram.

With Wayne Welbeck leading the line in his first full appearance Mossley had a new dimension to their play which had been lacking in earlier games. This despite the injury absence of Sam Madeley and Lewis Nightingale. Andy Keogh, Tom Pratt and Danny McDonnell provided the attacking support for Welbeck and all four, along with midfield play maker Ryan Hopper were very much involved in all Mossley's best passages of play.

Clitheroe had barely troubled Mossley's defence in the opening quarter and the Lilywhites were given a gilt edged chance to take the lead on 15 minutes when the tricky McDonnell was brought down in the box by visitors full back Keith Wedge. Kyle McGonigle stepped up to the plate but went for power and got his spot kick horribly wrong with his shot somehow clearing not only the bar but the school as well.

Mossley were almost punished instantly for the miss as Russ Saunders was forced into his first save of the game moments later when turning away Paul Carney's close range effort.

However, the Lilywhites were punished on 19 minutes when Chris Dykes ran onto a loose ball and fired a 25 yard screamer into the top right hand corner of the net despite Saunders' best efforts to keep it out.

Mossley continued to force the issue but the visitors defended stoutly and keeper Mottram was a competent custodian keeping the Lilywhites at bay.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Pratt, Keogh and Welbeck all going close. Mossley's pressure increased with Clitheroe by now all but nonexistent as an attacking force. Pratt hit the inside of the post before Mottram made an amazing point blank save from substitute Dougie Carroll. Mossley claimed a another penalty when Keogh's shot was clearly handled on the line by a Clitheroe defender but referee Mr Benton, who had an otherwise excellent game, was having none of it and it looked like all Mossley's efforts would come to naught.

However, with the game slipping into stoppage time and Clitheroe attempting to play keep ball, a stumble by a Clitheroe defender saw the ball break to Danny Broadbent and the burly forward finally broke his Mossley duck curling a superb 25 yard effort well out of Mottram's reach for a more than deserved equaliser.

With performances like this Mossley will surely not be far away from their first win of the season and on another night the Lilywhites could have won this game by a clear five or six goals. But, on this occasion, it was not to be!

Report by Wizard