A powerful gale-force wind was Mossley’s eventual undoing in a 2-1 home defeat by play off chasing rivals Brighouse Town at Seel Park on Saturday.

The Lilywhites went into the game shorn of the suspended Keogh, McGonigle and Pratt while Scott Kay had departed to FC United in midweek meaning a reshuffle for the Lilywhites management, particularly in midfield with Sam Howell coming into the starting line up and Mike Fish returning to the side after missing the Lancaster trip.

Mossley, skippered for the day by Tom Dean, won the toss and elected to play the first half with the wind at their backs, a decision they were later to rue.

Brighouse were energetic pacy in attack and caused the Lilywhites a few early problems, Liam Flynn pulling off a great save to deny the ever dangerous Ernest Boafo.

However, it was Mossley who struck first. The Lilywhites won a left wing corner. Howell played the ball short to John Bennett who cut along the dead-ball line before crossing low for Dave Short to flick home from close range at the near post.

The game swung from end to end with half chances for both sides. Flynn made another great stop to tip Tom Haigh’s powerful drive onto and over the bar while at the other end Short’s screamer of a free kick was eq1ually well saved by Harry Stead.

Caldon Henson then made an outstanding goal line block tackle to deny Mark Bett a tap in after Boafo had burst through a gap and squared the ball to his fellow striker.

Mossley almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as Fish’s diving header from a right wing cross hit the side netting, Fish was left briefly thinking that he had scored.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, the already extremely strong wind increased as the game wore on meaning Mossley were unable to make any serious attacking headway.

The visitors equalised on 73 minutes. A speculative ball into the box from deep on left was caught by the wind and dipped agonizingly under the bar with Flynn stranded.

Three minutes later Brighhouse had turned the game around but it was a controversial goal. Henson was clearly fouled as he tried to clear before the ball found Ryan Hall who fired home from ten yards.

Mossley tried desperately to find a way back into the game but came up against a determined Brighouse defence and a relentless wind that blew the ball back towards the Mossley goal every time it left the ground.

All in all a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for Mossley who will surely now regret taking first advantage of the elements.

Wiz

Smiffy's pics
Dave Short scores Mossley's goal