On a ‘just about playable’ surface, marvellous Mossley out-thought, out-fought and out-scored neighbours Droylsden when completing a 4-2 victory at the Butchers Arms Ground on Saturday.

It was a bright Autumn day when the sides met at Seel Park but on this bitterly cold and wet January afternoon it was a partial pudding of a pitch which saw a humdinger of a match played to an identical 4-2 conclusion.

It took Mossley 26 minutes to build up a 3-0 lead in the home game but it took the Lilywhites a minute less to do exactly the same at the ‘Butchers’.

Droylsden enjoyed the early pressure with Andy Farrimond twice called into action to make decent saves. However, it was to be Mossley who opened the scoring on 13 minutes. Tom Pratt burst down the right as the home defence was split, his pass across goal offered a first Mossley goal for Droylsden old boy Rio Ahmadi, who placed the ball in an open goal from five yards.

Droylsden’s insistence on playing out from the back saw their back four regularly putting themselves under pressure as Ahmadi, Robinson and Pratt were making a real nuisance of themselves.

Mossley doubled their advantage on 21 minutes. Ahmadi was brought down inside the box as he took on Alistair Brown when cutting inside from the left wing. Sam Robinson coolly slotted home from the penalty spot, sending ex Mossley keeper Russ Saunders the wrong way.

Four minutes later Mossley were in dreamland as Robinson burst through a high Droylsden line, drawing Saunders from his goal before slipping in a delighted Ahmadi for his second tap in of the afternoon.

The ever dangerous Ahmadi was then guilty of missing a couple more chances that could have wrapped up the game by half time.

Mossley were forced deeper after the break as Droylsden looked to cut the deficit but the Lilywhites were still a threat on the break.

The home side made a triple substitution on 58 minutes with Ben Deegan being among the replacements and after a spell of pressure the big target man was on hand to head home and reduce the arrears.

Buoyed by this, the Bloods went in search of a second and with ten minutes to go duly recorded it. Deegan slipping the ball through for fellow substitute Stephen Hall to slot home.

It was all hands to the pump for Mossley who threw bodies in the way of everything Droylsden could muster and yet still looked threatening on the breakaway.

Droylsden won a contested foul ten yards outside the box with only five minutes remaining and Shaun Myler whipped a super free kick that hit the underside of the bar before being hurriedly cleared by a grateful Josh Granite.

The game still had time for one more major moment and what a moment it was. With all eleven players defending, Lilywhites substitute Mike Fish won the ball just outside the Mossley penalty area and set off running up field, chased by desperate Droylsden defenders, he ran and he ran before, upon reaching the left corner of the home box, he switched the ball to his right foot before curling an absolute beauty of a shot beyond Saunders desperate reach from 25 yards. A real ‘Goal of the Season’ contender that will take some beating.

Players and fans celebrated together and Mossley played out the final moments in the corner to record an excellent and fully deserved victory over their old rivals.

Wiz

Smiffy's pics

Man of the Match Tom Pratt on the burst