A clinical first half performance saw Mossley romp to a relatively easy high scoring victory at bottom markers New Mills at a muddy Church Lane on Saturday.

This campaign’s perpetual substitute Dougie Carroll was given his first League start of the season and he responded with a well taken first half hat-trick as the Lilywhites prized open the Millers defence on numerous occasions as Mossley racked up five goals without reply before the break.

Having said that it was the home side who had the first opening when a soppy back pass was pounced on by Daniel Douglas Pringle but Liam Flynn continued his great run of form with a fine save.

Mossley took the lead with their first serious attack in the 7th minute. Tom Pratt was fouled on the left touchline and Kyle McGonigle’s free kick saw Dave Short lose his marker to head home his 11th goal of the season.

The Lilywhites added a second five minutes later when Tom Pratt broke clear. Pratt screwed his shot but the ball was turned into his own net by ex Mossley player Jack Pritchard.

Mossley then scored twice in quick-fire succession in the 16th and 17th minutes, both scored by Dougie Carroll.

Firstly he met Tom Pratt’s low right wing cross with a sweet first time finish from 20 yards and then got on the end of Andy Keogh’s flicked through ball to slot home again to put Mossley 4-0 ahead with the game less than quarter of the way through.

Mossley lost defender Mike Thomas with injury on 20 minutes with new boy Liam Baker his replacement.

Carroll completed his hat-trick five minutes before the break when his shot bounced off the now heavily rutted pitch and over the dive of keeper Oliver Martin.

Mossley took their foot off the peddle in the early stages of the second half and Daniel Douglas-Pringle pulled a goal back when he slotted home from a right wing cross.

An unlikely comeback looked a little less remote when Douglas-Pringle broke from a clearly off-side position a few minutes later and he squared the ball to Ricky Anane to score a simple tap in.

The goal appeared to rouse sleepy Mossley once more and a four goal cushion was re-opened in the 69th minute when Carroll’s cross from the right wing was turned home at the far post by Tom Pratt.

The scoring was completed in the 76th minute when an unforced mistake by Millers keeper Martin allowed Andy Keogh to score into an empty net.

To be fair to New Mills they never gave up trying and Liam Flynn was called on to make a couple more excellent saves to maintain the five goal lead and send Lilywhites fans home in jubilant mood.

Wiz