FIRST HALF DAMAGE DONE
Division One North
Saturday 11th April 2015 @ Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland
Darlington 1883
Mossley
(3) 3
(0) 1
Mitchell (4, 13), Armstrong (35)
Fish (59 pen)
Mossleyweb Man of the Match: Caldon Henson


Darlington 1883

1. Peter Jameson
2. Gary Brown (c)
3. Terry Galbraith
4. Alan White
5. Chris Hunter
6. Tom Portas
7. Stephen Thompson
8. Leon Scott
9. Graeme Armstrong
10. Nathan Cartman
11. Adam Mitchell
subs
12. David Dowson (for Thompson 65)
13. Mark Bell (not used)
14. Liam Hatch (for Brown 74)
15. Ian Watson (for Portas 88)
16. Nelson Mota (not used)

Yellow cards:
Brown, Hatch

Mossley
1. Liam Flynn
2. Caldon Henson
3. John Bennett
4. Tom Dean
5. Arron Hevingham
6. Josh Granite
7. Sam Robinson
8. Ryan Barrow
9. Andy Keogh (c)
10. Tom Pratt
11. Mike Fish
subs
12. Kyle McGonigle (not used)
13. Andy Farrimond (not used)
14. Danny McDonnell (not used)
15. Charlie Anderson (for Pratt 85)
16. Rio Ahmadi (for Barrow 46)

Yellow cards:
Bennett, Granite

Referee: Mr T. Fletcher

 


Mossley faced possibly their most difficult away fixture of the season when visiting title favorites Darlington on Saturday conceded three first half goals before recovering their dignity if not the points after the break.

The toss of the coin was never more important than on this occasion as the home side won the toss and aided by a relentlessly strong wind in their favour raced into a two goal lead inside the first fifteen minutes.

The Lilywhites had opened well forcing Darlington onto the back foot despite playing into the teeth of the wind. However, the home side scored with their first attack. Gary Brown's long throw from the right was only half cleared and Adam Mitchell found the space to drill the ball home through a crowded Mossley box.

Worse was to follow on 13 minutes when Mossley lost possession in midfield and Portas played the ball into the path of the advancing Mitchell who drilled the ball home at the near post.

Mossley had a strong penalty appeal waved away when Sam Robinson was clearly impeded in the home box as Mossley fought hard to find a way into the game winning a succession of corners and long throw ins but to no avail.

It was to be Darlington who scored the next goal on 35 minutes but it was a controversial one. Graeme Armstrong fired a powerful shot from 20 yards that Liam Flynn parried back into the striker's path. However, Armstrong clearly handled the ball before striking home the rebound with the referee ignoring Mossley appeals.

With the wind now at their backs the Lilywhites pressed forward and were handed a lifeline on 59 minutes when Caldon Henson's long throw was only partially cleared and Galbraith upended Josh Granite to concede a penalty. Mike Fish converted from the spot sending home keeper Jameson the wrong way.

Mossley now had the upper hand as Darlington struggled to clear their lines playing into the wind but Flynnn still had to be alert as he tipped over Nathan Cartman's header.

At the other end Andy Keogh went close with a volley that Jameson did well to hold and then Keogh's great skill and cross saw Jameson tip over substitute Rio Ahmadi's point blank header. Jameson was then nearly caught out as Tom Dean's long clearance took a bounce and just cleared the bar with the home keeper floundering.

The win for Darlington leaves them three points behind leaders Salford with a game in hand and a better goal difference. As for Mossley, the Lilywhites now trail a play off place by six points with just three games remaining. Though now a little remote a top five finish is still mathematically possible and as long as it is the Lilywhites will no doubt keep fighting for the points with home games against Harrogate and Clitheroe to play in the coming week.

Wiz