Injury and suspension hit Mossley bounced back from two successive League defeats to earn a place in the quarter finals of the Manchester FA Premier Cup, coming from behind to win 2-1 at North West Counties League promotion hopefuls Glossop North End.

In what was a full blooded, no holds barred cup tie the Lilywhites had to dig deep to come out on top as Glossop threw the proverbial ‘kitchen sink’ at Mossley in the closing stages after the visitors had taken a 77th minute lead.

Mossley opened brightly as Tom Pratt saw his curling drive skip just wide of the far post but it was the home side who drew first blood. Mossley lost possession in midfield and ex Mossley man Lee Blackshaw played a through ball into the path of Tom Bailey who stroked home past the advancing Andy Farrimond.

Mossley’s fickle confidence had taken a blow and a lifted Glossop began to dictate. Farrimond saved superbly to deny Blackshaw’s fierce drive and then did well to block another Bailey effort with his feet.

The closest Mossley came was when Charlie Anderson’s well struck free kick flew narrowly over the bar.

Mossley fans were fearing the worst as the sides trooped off at half time but the Lilywhites showed great resilience in bouncing back after the break.

An enforced half time change saw Tom Dean replaced by Oliver Devenney and the Mossley substitute drew the Lilywhites level just three minutes into the second period. Tom Murray was fouled just outside and to the left of the Glossop box. Devenney fired towards the near post with the ball squirming from keeper Greg Hall’s grasp and rolling over the line off the near post.

Mossley finally began to dominate the game with Glossop resorting to long hopeful punts up-field in a vain and fruitless attempt to counter attack.

The winning goal came when Glossop failed to clear a Mossley set piece, Gresty’s hammered clearance hit another Mossley old boy Dave Young and the ball broke free to Tom Pratt who rounded Hall to roll the ball home.

As the game entered the final ten minutes Glossop threw everything they had at Mossley. Cross after cross came into the Mossley box with Farrimond doing well on several occasions while Josh Granite was called upon to make a superb goal line clearance on the one occasion that Farrimond was beaten.

Glossop won a sequence of late set pieces to keep nerves jangling but the Mossley defence held firm stoically to earn their place in the next round.

Wiz

Steve Dyson's Match Photos