Mossley put previously unbeaten old rivals Clitheroe to the sword at a sunny Seel Park on Saturday as the Lilywhites kept up their own unbeaten start which has seen them yet to concede a goal in the current campaign.

Mossley were forced into changes at the back with Ryan Marley and Kyle McGonigle both unavailable. Tom Dean came in for his first appearance of the season after injury and he was paired with rookie Jack Pritchard making his full debut. Both players stood up well to the challenge.

It was Clitheroe who opened on the front foot however, as the visitors set about their task with great confidence following their 5-1 victory at Droylsden in their previous outing.

Mossley were struck an early blow when they lost left back Lee Wilshaw through injury in the first few minutes with new boy Josh Greenhalgh his straight replacement.

The visitors offered a real threat but their finishing was unconvincing despite the obvious menace of lively wingers Harries and Bakkor.

After surviving the early flurry from the visitors, Mossley began to impose themselves on the game as Sam Robinson curled a sweet shot from outside the box which pinged the Clitheroe crossbar.

The Lilywhites broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Clitheroe failed to deal with a Mossley corner and Andy Keogh clipped a great pass through for Robinson to chest down and volley home from ten yards.

Clitheroe continued to ask questions though and Will Jones excelled himself with a terrific clawed save under pressure which left him needing treatment.

Mossley made a change at the break with Rory Breslin replacing Horrocks as Mossley changed their shape to counter Clitheroe’s good possession ratio.

The visitors were hit two minutes after the break when left back Danny Brady, having been booked for an innocuous tackle in the first half pulled back Tom Pratt and was shown a second yellow and then red card.

Undaunted, Clitheroe continued to ask questions but Mossley playing on the counter attack were always a threat.

After John Bennett had struck a post and Andy Keogh had gone very close after a great run, the home side finally put the game to bed in the last five minutes. John Bennett’s burst through the centre saw him challenged by keeper Jacovlevs but the ball broke to substitute Rhys Nevins who calmly stroked the ball into an empty net.

Moments later Mossley won a corner on the right and Bennett’s pin point cross was turned home by Robinson to seal a conclusive three points and a place amongst the early pacesetters.

Wiz

Smiffy pics

Sam Robinson completes the scoring