It was last minute agony for Mossley as promotion chasing Northwich Victoria stole the points with a dramatic last minute winner at Seel Park on Tuesday night.

Mossley got off to a flying start taking the lead in the 2nd minute. Early pressure saw Mossley win a right wing throw in. Caldon Henson’s launched throw was missed by the Vics defenders and the ball bounced up for Dougie Carroll to head home from six yards.

The Lilywhites played some confident pass and move football which was causing the visitors plenty of consternation but after failing to extend the lead the Lilywhites were pegged back level when Matt Regan got on the end of Gary Burnett’s low cross to fire back across Flynn into the far corner of the Mossley net.

The game opened up and a high tempo by both sides often threatened to boil over as tackles got a little tasty but chances were few, though Vics’ Jimmy Ball saw an effort hit the Mossley post.

However, Mossley were rocked back on their heels on the stroke of half time when the Lilywhites failed to clear their lined and Stuart Cook fired in a powerful effort from the edge of the box that gave Liam Flynn no chance.

It took the Lilywhites fifteen minutes of the second half to draw level. Andy Keogh burst onto Henson’s through ball and his attempt to square to better placed colleague Dougie Carroll saw the ball ricochet back into the Mossley skipper’s path and he made no mistake with a close range finish.

Flynn came to Mossley’s rescue making a fine save to deny Burnett and Danny McDonnell did equally well to deny Alex Byrne’s goal bound effort from the rebound.
Carroll had a great chance for Mossley but lifted his volleyed effort over the bar when well placed.

Mossley thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Godwin Abadaki was clearly pushed over in the box but to no reward.

Vics substitute and ex Mossley striker Richard Bennett came close to winning the game when his powerful effort came back off the underside of the bar and it then looked like both sides had settled for a share of the spoils.

However, as the game entered it’s final minute a long hopeful punt up field by Duxbury saw Bennett latch on to the ball and with the advancing Flynn in no-mans land, the rangy front man clipped a volley into the roof of the Mossley net to the absolute delight of his team-mates.

Mossley tried desperately to respond but Dave Short’s stoppage time effort flew wide and Vics took the points in a game where a draw would probably have been the fairest result in what was an evenly contested match.

Wiz

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