This was a cup tie that Mossley will wish to forget quickly as an in-form Northwich Victoria racked up the goals in a dominant performance against a Lilywhites side who didn’t start playing until they were two goals down.

The Lilywhites had Dougie Carroll up top for his first start since his injury back in August and with several players unavailable there was a call up for Kyle McGonigle (starting his first match of the campaign) along with Oliver Devenney, Dean Warburton and Matty Purcell.

Vics opened on the front foot and rarely relented in a one sided opening period that saw the visitors take a 21st minute lead when the elusively dangerous Gary Burnett fired home as he rounded Andy Farrimond after a terrific through ball by Bohan Dixon and three minutes later the visitors had doubled their advantage as Godwin Abadaki found space on the edge of Mossley’s six yard box to score from a left wing corner.

Mossley finally began to put a few passes together but just like Mossley’s previous opponents Darlington, Vics have an extremely strong defence that gave little quarter.

The second half saw Mossley in better form and Carroll was denied a certain penalty when he was hauled down by Sharratt before Matty Cross hit the Vics bar with a rasping free kick from 25 yards.

Despite some good Mossley pressure it was Vics who scored the next and no doubt match clinching goal when Bohan Dixon curled a fine shot from 20 yards beyond Farrimond’s reach on 68 minutes.

Five minutes from time Vics were awarded a soft penalty when Josh Granite was adjudged to have fouled Burnett in a similar challenge to the one not awarded earlier for Mossley and Jack Sherratt rifled home from the spot.

Substitute Brian Matthews scored a late consolation for Mossley with a fine run and power drive from the right wing that outfoxed Vics keeper Dave Smith.

Salt was rubbed in Mossley’s wounds in stoppage time when Gary Burnett scored his second with another fine effort from the edge of the box to see Vics comfortably through to the second round and send Mossley back to the dressing room to lick their wounds.

Wiz