Mossley made it four wins on the spin at ten man Harrogate RA on Saturday and more importantly kept their first clean sheet of the season with a competent defensive performance.

Harrogate struggled from the 5th minute of the game. Dougie Carroll latched onto a through ball but was dragged back as he entered the penalty box by Rail centre back Mike Morris, who as the last defender was shown a straight red card. Charlie Anderson stepped up and curled a superb free kick around the wall leaving on loan Huddersfield Town and Ireland under 19 keeper Eric Grimes rooted to his line.

Mossley went on to totally dominate the opening half. Carroll, Tom Pratt and Wayne Welbeck in particular leading the reshuffled Rail defence a merry dance. Welbeck's high work rate and silky skills caused endless problems for the home side as the Lilywhites created a number of good chances.

It was no surprise when the Lilywhites doubled the lead on 23 minutes. John Bennett whipped in a cross which was flicked on by Andy Keogh for the in rushing Louis Horne and Rail skipper Jon Maloney to meet the ball at the same time. Horne being credited with the goal though his contact seemed minimal.

Anderson hit the bar with another free kick as Mossley turned the screw but a third goal didn't arrive. At the other end Harrogate offered little goal threat despite some smart approach play particularly from the lively Rob Youhill.

Mossley eased off the gas after the break and seemed to make a clean sheet the main priority. This they achieved with some ease and still provided the greater goal threat. Carroll, Welbeck, Pratt, Bennett and Keogh all had chances to add to the scoreline.

Five minutes from time Mossley were awarded a controversial penalty. Substitute Sam Madeley drove a powerful angled shot that Grimes saved but didn't hold. Madeley and Grimes challenged for the rebound but Grimes raised his studs as Madeley approached. However Charlie Anderson, despite sending Grimes the wrong way, saw his spot kick hit the post and rebound to safety.

The penalty miss proved academic though as the Lilywhites comfortably took the points to climb into a mid-table position in the Evo-stik League.

Report by Wizard