This was never going to be an easy 90 minutes for Mossley. The team appeared in unusual colours of black shirts with yellow arms in a kit borrowed from Witton Albion as the shirts had been left behind at home. That misfortune proved to be an indication of things to come as the game kicked off.

Northwich attacked right from the start and looked dangerous down both flanks. They went ahead on 8 mins after a corner carelessly conceded and ineptly defended allowed Ryan Astles to power a header in from 6 yards.

Mossley tried with little success to get a foothold in the game. Sam Robinson had a half chance from a misplaced defensive header but his shot was well saved by Vics keeper Springthorpe.

On 24 minutes Mossley almost equalised after a great ball from John Bennett was expertly controlled by Tom Pratt whose cross cum shot nearly brought the sides level.

Less than a minute later the price for that was paid as a simple long ball found the Mossley defence hesitant and the speedy Gary Burnett took the ball round the stranded keeper Liam Flynn and passed it into the empty net.

On 31 minutes the miserable first half display was completed as Northwich broke down the Mossley right flank and Abou Sanogo had thse simplest of tasks finishing from six yards.

Whatever was said at half time provoked a response as Mossley came more into the game and on 56 minutes Dave Short hammered home from close range after Robinson's shot was parried out.

The game took another turn two minutes later when a half chance saw Robinson power in another shot only to see it turned away by the keeper.

If that had gone in it could have been so different.......but no, as on 64 minutes Northwich sealed the game with a glorious move that saw their man of the match Stuart Cook hit an accurate cross picking out Josh Amis who powered in a typical centre forwards header from some distance.

Mossley never gave up for the rest of the game but on 85 minutes ex Mossley striker Richard Bennett completed the misery after another simple long ball caught the defence out leaving him to easily finish.

All in all this was a fine display by a competent and athletic Northwich team who were being watched by representatives from Nothampton Town who they face in the FA Cup second round in early December .

In truth although Mossley never gave up. They came second in every department and it proved to be a hard night for the travelling support.

Report by Ray Moreland