Mossley slipped to a disappointing defeat at a windy Valley Road on Saturday as a late second half salvo from hosts Northwich Victoria gave them the points.

Mossley, with first use of the wind advantage, opened brightly with Dougie Carroll and Andy keogh making a nuisance of themselves but the Lilywhites, sporting their new orange and black away kit, created little as Vics squeezed the midfield areas effectively, denying Mossley space in the attacking third. Vics were equally well marshalled in their forays forward as the home side employed a direct approach that offered little threat.

Mossley created only two chances in the opening half. Luke McCarthy saw his angled effort turned round the post by home keeper Deasy and Charlie Anderson's 20 yard free kick soon after did little to trouble the burly Vics custodian. The Vics defence, marshalled superbly by former Mossley player Michael Thomas, denied Mossley any further scoring opportunities.

Vics had a great chance to take the lead on 30 minutes when Louis Horne mistimed a tackle and caught Gary Burnett for a clear cut penalty. However, home skipper Dale Wright saw his spot kick well saved by Russ Saunders as he dived to his left to turn the ball away and Horne redeemed himself by getting to the rebound first to clear the danger.

The second half saw Tom Pratt return from injury to replace the out of sorts Dougie Carroll and Pratt gave his usual all action performancve but without reward. Vics meanwhile, now the wind advantage, created a few half chances but their shooting was generally wayward.

With both defences looking solid, the game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw when, in the 70th minute former Skelmersdale striker Gary Burnett found half a yard on the edge of the box and flashed a shot past Saunders left hand dive.

Mossley tried hard to find a way back but Vics were able to mop up the visitors raids and with the Lilywhites piling bodies forward in the closing moments they were caught with a counter attack as substitute Danny Boyle raced up the right wing and crossed for Brian Summerskill to tap home at the far post to give the final scoreline a somewhat flattering look.

Report by Wizard