Mossley’s hopes of retaining the Robinsons Brewery Manchester FA Premier Cup were aided on Tuesday night at Seel Park as the Lilywhites strolled to a comfortable win over Premier Division strugglers Droylsden.

It was a thoroughly one sided game which wasn’t truly reflected in the scoreline, as Mossley created and missed numerous chances, whilst the visitors scored with both of their only meaningful efforts to ensure a result that was far less conclusive than Mossley’s total domination merited.

The game didn’t start too well for the home side though as Dougie Carroll was denied in a one on one with keeper Ashley Hall in only the 2nd minute and two minutes later the Bloods took the lead. A short corner saw Daniel McCloughlin float a far post cross that caught Saunders off his line and the ball floated over him and into the net.

Carroll, Andy Keogh and Tom Pratt all missed good chances before the Lilywhites found a deserved equaliser on 18 minutes. Pratt and Callam Gardner combining to set up Dougie Carroll who finished well from the edge of the box.

More chances came. Pratt headed wide from Carroll’s cross, Hall did well to hold onto Nightingale’s free kick, Kevin McGrath headed Gardner’s deep cross just over, Keogh fired straight at the keeper from a good position and Carroll fired over after being well set up by Pratt.

The second half started in the same vein with Mossley totally in charge. Nightingale hit the side netting after a great run and Pratt was denied by a good Hall save before Mossley finally took the lead on 53 minutes.

Carroll and Pratt combined well to set up Lewis Nightingale who curled a great strike from the right edge of the box that completely bamboozled Hall.

Gardner then nutmegged his marker forcing Hall into a diving save before Mossley stretched the lead on 67 minutes. Saunders’ long clearance found Carroll racing clear before he pulled the ball back for Andy Keogh to smash home from 15 yards.

More Mossley pressure saw Gardner fire wide from Keogh’s unorthodox cross and Carroll prodded wide after good work by Hopper and debutant substitute Simon Gallanders.

Completely against the run of play Droylsden reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute when Rob Kinsella floated a long range effort that moved in the air to outfox Saunders. But the Bloods already looked a beaten side and Mossley wrapped the tie up with five minutes remaining.

Dougie Carroll raced through a gap and was brought down for a clear penalty. The Mossleyweb ’man of the match’ then calmly fired home the resultant spot kick giving Hall no chance.

Hall redeemed himself soon after with a save from Gallanders, but it is Mossley who march through to the quarter finals with what can only be described as a comprehensive drubbing of a team from the higher division, though on current form Droylsden look very much like relegation candidates, whilst Mossley have scored 4 goals in each of their last three games and the hard work of joint managers Band and Morrison looks like it is starting to pay dividends

Report by Wizard