Runaway League leaders Warrington Town will have to wait a little longer to be crowned Evo-stik League Division One North Champions as second placed Spennymoor Town eased to a 3-1 win at Seel Park on Tuesday night to resign Mossley to a third successive defeat.

Without the injured Caldon Henson and Callum Warburton and shorn of the suspended Kyle McGonigle and Liam Flynn, the side showed several changes with Mike Fish coming in for McGonigle and Scott Cheetham recalled to the side at left back with Danny McDonnell switching to the right.

A high paced opening saw both sides pass the ball well with chances at both ends. Michael Thomas clearing Joe Tait’s effort off the line before Tom Pratt fired narrowly wide after a mazy run on the left.

However, it was the visitors who edged in front on 20 minutes when a cross from Mossley’s left found Liam Henderson with far too much room and the big
Spennymoor number 9 made no mistake firing into the far corner giving Will Jones no chance.

Buoyed by the goal Spennymoor began to settle into the game and take control, both sides attempting long raking passes to open up the others defence, but it was Spennymoor who were more effective in that department and after a spell of pressure they doubled their advantage on 37 minutes with a deflected finish by the impressive James Risbrough.

Dave Short replaced Dougie Carroll at the interval and Mossley came out with more purpose after the break and began to dominate as Spennymoor were forced deeper, but, the League’s meanest defence, having conceded just 28 goals in 39 games held firm under increasing Lilywhites pressure.

Short and Pratt came closest to finding a way back for Mossley but both fired narrowly wide from decent positions as Spennymoor raids became less and less frequent.

Mossley finally saw some light with ten minutes remaining. Andy Keogh’s precise through ball saw Tom Pratt race through the left channel and glance a fine shot past the stranded Daniel Lowson.

Mossley sensed a comeback might be on the cards and for a time it looked like they may just achieve it.

Pratt was unfortunate to see his effort loop over the bar as he bore down on Lowson’s goal a few minutes later for what was to be Mossley’s best chance of an equaliser but the visitors secured the points in the last minute.

With Mossley throwing bodies forward in a last desperate attempt to find what would by then have been a deserved goal, the visitors broke on Mossley’s right and substitute Nathan Fisher weaved an opening to score and the high-flyers took home the spoils.

Wiz