A damp Tuesday night in Ossett saw Mossley record a third successive win with a solitary Tom Pratt goal the difference between two sides who failed to create more than a handful of chances between them over the course of a dour ninety minutes.

Mossley were forced to make just one change from the side that started Saturday’s demolition of Droylsden with Charlie Anderson replacing the injured Josh Granite in central defence.

An accident on the motorway had hampered Mossley’s warm up for the game as several players and management arrived late and kick off was delayed until 7.55pm. A further five minute delay then ensued as the referees assistant found a tear in an Ossett net and the game finally kicked off in front of just over a hundred fans at 8 pm.

On an uneven surface that looked like it needed a trim, hopes of an exciting game of passing football were abandoned in favour of direct long ball football which in honesty suited neither team.

Ossett manager John Reed has assembled a young and enthusiastic side but they lacked a cutting edge against a Mossley team buoyed by recent positive results. Neither defence was greatly troubled in a thoroughly uneventful and uninspiring opening half.

The second half saw Mossley take more of a grip on the game with Tom Pratt and Andy Keogh prominent in most Mossley attacks.

However, chances were still at a premium. Ossett wasted a couple of decent set piece chances as did Mossley but it was the visiting Lilywhites who were finally given something to cheer on 68 minutes. Tom Pratt received a pass from substitute Dean Warburton and set off on a mazy run, taking on and beating three Town defenders before whipping in an angled cross that deceived everyone and beat Ossett keeper Brad Dixon at his far post to finally break the deadlock.

Ossett pressed in the later stages but it was Mossley who came closest when Charlie Anderson’s header from a corner came back off the Ossett bar and Tom Dean headed over from the rebound.

The final moments saw Ossett win a couple of free kicks in decent positions but both were wasted with Mossley keeper Andy Farrimond having to make only a solitary diving save in the entire 90 minutes.

Mossley will be more than happy with the points but will certainly look to up their game with the very difficult fixtures to come.

Wiz

Mark Gledhill's Match Photos