Mossley were left to rue a host of missed chances in Tuesday's visit to last season's Play Off finalists Bamber Bridge and finally succumbed to a hardly deserved 1-0 defeat as Mossley did everything bar score the all important goal.

Bamber Bridge, big and direct, looked to get the ball to star player Alistair Waddecar as often as possible. He started on the left wing but regularly switched flanks in the hopes of finding a chink in the Mossley armour. As it was the Lilywhites defence was in great form and did well to generally deny Waddecar's service to the enormous frame of centre forward Greg Johnstone.

Going forward, Mossley were slippery and aventurous with Dean Warburton, Tom Pratt and Mitch Bryant in particular, using their power and pace to unsettle the home side's big back four.

The game swung from end to end but it was Mossley who created the better openings. However, the home side's man of the match was keeper Lee Dovey who made a string of fine saves to keep the lively Mossley out saving superbly to deny Pratt, Bryant (twice) and Tom Murray as Mossley regularly raided at pace.

At the other end Ash Frith's goal was less threatened as Brig's shot's mostly came from distance and flew high and wide although Frith was forced to make a good save to deny a Stuart Vasey effort.

The only goal of the game came three minutes before the break. Mossley lost posession near the half way line on the right wing and the ball was worked to Andy Bell who cut inside his marker to fire low and beat the diving Frith at his near post.

The second half saw Mossley again dominate possession for lengthy periods, but the visitors finishing left much to be desired on the night. Bryant was again the culprit as he was again denied by Dovey and then the same player screwed wide from a great position. Andy Keogh was denied by another great Dovey save as Mossley buzzed around the home box probing for openings.

With eight minutes remaining Mossley were handed a lifeline when substitute Oliver Devenney was hauled back in the box and Mossley were awarded a penalty. However, the gods were against Mossley again as Dovey dived to his left to deny Tom Pratt's spot kick with the ball scrambled away for a corner as the rebound spun from his grasp.

Mossley continued to press and had one more chance in the final seconds but substitute Kevin McGrath fired over the bar when well placed and that was that. Mossley will no doubt play worse than this and win as the season unfolds, but on this night it was the home side who rode their luck and they have keeper Lee Dovey to thanks for earning them the points.

Wiz

Pics by Stefan Willoughby

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