Mossley once again showed 'bouncebackability' to overcome an enthusiastic and hard working Padiham side in the Lilywhites first ever competitive visit to the Abories Sports Ground on Saturday. Mossley twice coming from behind to take the points five minutes from time in what was an exciting, fast and physical encounter.

Mossley actually started the game poorly and fell behind as early as the fourth minute. An earlier warning wasn't heeded as Russ Saunders had already been called into action to deny Ashley Craig from a through ball and when the same player raced through another gap he was this time able to go around the Mossley keeper and slot into the empty net.

Mossley rallied with Dougie Carroll and Andy Keogh linking well and an equaliser came in the 10th minute. Tom Pratt created space for himself after good work by Keogh and Luke McCarthy and the Bury loanee made no mistake firing home at the near post from the edge of the box past a static Padiham keeper.

Mossley had a strong penalty claim waved away when Carroll flicked the ball over keeper Proctor and was clearly upended by the Padiham custodian who crashed straight into the Mossley number 9, but the referee was having none of it.

Mossley looked in control of the game with Dean Warburton having an excellent game in central midfield and the Lilywhites looked a threat with every attack. But, it was the home side who were to retake take the lead on 35 minutes. The otherwise again impressive Kevin McGrath gave away a needless foul outside the box and Louis Mayers, son of one time Mossley player Kenny Mayers, stepped up to rifle a great free kick into the top corner giving Saunders no chance.

Playing down the Arbories incline after the break the Lilywhites were again a serious attacking threat but Padiham were speedy on the break and created chances of their own. Padiham's attacking play was often frantic and this was epitomised when home skipper Martin Parkes missed the target with an open goal at his mercy while Saunders was called into action to make a couple of good saves from Mayers and the powerful Ben Allen.

The Mossley equaliser came on 64 minutes. Mossley won a corner on the left which was quickly taken by Tom Pratt to Luke McCarthy. McCarthy stepped inside and unleashed an unstoppable right foot drive from 20 yards which left Proctor rooted to his line as the ball thundered past him.

The game swung at speed from end to end with chances for both sides, but it was Mossley who sealed the victory with five mintes left on the clock. Russ Saunders had made a save a played the ball long. Andy Keogh flicked a header to debutant substitute Ryan Humphries. The former Blackburn Rovers youngster squeezed a return pass to Keogh under pressure and the outstanding Keogh raced forward to blast the ball home from the edge of the box.

The drama wasn't over though as Saunders was called into action again making a couple of great saves as Padiham pressed desperately for an equaliser. In the final minute of stoppage time Tom Pratt lost his footing on the right and fouled Sam Morris. Pratt was then yellow carded for not retreating ten yards as quickly as the referee would have liked and when he disputed the decision he was instantly shown a second yellow, thus receiving a needless red card just seconds before the final whistle, to put a slight damper on what was an excellent and hard earned Mossley victory.

Report by Wizard

Tom Pratt

Luke McCarthy

Andy Keogh