The combination of poor weather, the relative lack of importance placed on the Doodson Cup by fans, big European games on TV and Mossley’s disappointing start to the season were the recipe for one of Mossley’s lowest ever attendances on Tuesday night. However, those that stayed away missed an exciting comeback by Mossley to beat newly promoted Padiham by the odd goal in seven in this Doodson Cup Preliminary Round tie.

Evo-stik new boys Padiham, making their first ever visit to Seel Park came with a game plan. They chased, closed down and harassed Mossley when not in possession, and then when they had the ball were strong, direct and incisive. Mossley on the other hand spent almost the entire first half chasing shadows.

Padiham were good value for their 19th minute lead when Ben Allen headed home at the far post and even better value when they doubled their lead through Dominic Craig’s thunderbolt effort on 26 minutes.

Mossley had seen very little of the Padiham goal in that opening period. Danny Broadbent having come closest when he saw his shot well saved by Burgess.

After being mostly outplayed Mossley gained a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Broadbent headed home from Nightingale’s right wing corner.

A double half time change saw Andy Keogh and Callam Gardner replace Hopper and McDonnell and the Lilywhites opened the second period on the front foot and for the first time in the game looked a serious threat.

However, Padiham restored their two goal advantage when the visitors broke down the right wing and Kieron Pickup placed his shot beyond Russ Saunders reach.

The result looked a forgone conclusion at that point but Mossley wouldn’t lie down, as the hard grafting visitors started to run out of steam.

Broadbent reduced the arrears on 73 minutes when he nipped in at the near post to rap home Nightingale’s low cross from the right and two minutes later the Lilywhites were level when Nightingale’s free kick from out on the right eluded everyone in a crowded box to find it’s way into the net.

With Padiham’s attacking threat on the wane Mossley were now in charge and were unlucky when Keogh’s superb chip saw Burgess tip the ball onto and over the bar as the Lilywhites went in search of a winner.

That winner came in the 89th minute. Sam Halligan fired in a cross from the right and the diminutive Callam Garner sneaked in unmarked to glance a header past the stranded Burgess and finally give Mossley their first competitive win of the season in what was a proverbial ‘game of two halves’.

Mossley will now face Premier Division big guns AFC Fylde at Seel Park in the next round on Tuesday 12th November.

Report by Wizard