A solitary Andy Keogh goal was enough to give Mossley a deserved three point haul from Saturday’s visit to old rivals Clitheroe.

Improving Clitheroe earned a draw at League leaders Darlington the previous Saturday but on this occasion they were generally second best to a Mossley side who showed great determination and desire to not only win the game but ensure a clean sheet as well.

Chances in the game were few on an uneven and sticky surface which saw both sides playing something of a long ball game in the first period.

Ross Dent had the first real chance for the home side but failed to make a decent connection when it looked easier to score.

Clitheroe’s over eagerness in attack saw front men Gonzales and Hart regularly caught in off-side positions and some finicky refereeing prevented the game from finding a real flow.

Andy Farrimond did well to smother the ball as Hart broke into the box, while at the other end Kyle McGonigle’s powerfully struck free kick was brilliantly turned away by home keeper Andrew Dawber.

Sam Robinson had the ball in the net for Mossley on the half hour but the goal was chalked off for an extremely tight off-side decision.

Mossley lost Tom Pratt to a head injury just before half time by the hard working Matty Purcell his replacement.

Tom Dean was then forced to retire at the break with a groin problem despite having marked the highly rated Gonzales out of the game up to that point.

The enforced half time reshuffle saw McGonigle replace Dean in the back four, Keogh took up a deeper role in midfield and Mike Fish came on up front and the second half saw Mossley make a perfect start.

Five minutes after the restart Mossley won a free kick centrally some 40 yards out. John Bennett floated the set piece into the box, Josh Granite flicked on and Andy Keogh rose highest to plant a firm header beyond Dawber’s reach and into the top left corner of the net.

As the half wore on Clitheroe’s play became more desperate but they failed to test Farrimond and Mossley’s in form defence comfortably mopped up the home side’s best efforts to find a way through.

At the other end Mike Fish was unlucky to be denied by a goal-line clearance when his effort had the sting taken out of it by the advancing keeper.

Sam Robinson went clean through before being scythed down by Bonaminio just outside the box. The ref’s assistant raised a flag for a Mossley free kick and fans from both sides no doubt expected a red card for the Clitheroe defender, but, inexplicably referee Mr Issawi awarded the free kick Clitheroe’s way and yellow carded Robinson for an alleged dive.

Despite this blow Mossley comfortably played out the closing minutes for another fine away victory.

Wiz