The Mossley team had several enforced changes for the visit to League leaders Bamber Bridge on Tuesday evening. Latest signings Mark Haslam and Ciaran Harper came into the squad with Mike Fish and Logan Jeffs both unavailable.

The Lilywhites opened on the front foot, continuing where they had left off on Saturday. Closing down space and pressing high up the pitch. The game swung quickly from end to end but it was Mossley who looked far the more dangerous.

However, It took until the 34th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it was the Lilywhites who opened the account. John Bennett’s angled pass found Tom Pratt who in turn fed Jordan Bove. The ex Oldham Athletic striker wriggled to find space but was initially denied by home keeper Burgess. However the ball found it’s way back him and this time he made no mistake slotting home at the near post.

It was no less than Mossley deserved as they took the game to their high flying opponents. The joy wasn’t to last though. As the half came towards it’s close Bamber Bridge scored a freak equaliser. Regan Linney’s shot looked to have been screwed well wide when a wicked deflection off the unlucky Kyle McGonigle saw Will Jones wrong footed and the home side had an equaliser they barely deserved.

Mossley again came out of the blocks strongly after the break and put pressure on the home defence but were rocked six minutes into the half when Adam Dodd found space in the box to fire the home side ahead in their first meaningful attack of the half.

Now suddenly with their tails up Bamber Bridge suddenly started to look like the league leaders they are, confidently spraying passes and moving Mossley around the field. A spell of pressure then saw Mossley concede a calamitous third goal as Sam Livesey’s looping effort somehow evaded the entire Mossley defence and ended in the back of the net.

It was an uphill battle for Mossley from that point but chances were created. Substitute Damase Kiwanda burst through a gap and beat defenders for pace but shot into the side netting. Skipper Andy Keogh had another great chance when his crafty footwork opened space but he slivced his shot badly when he looked a certain scorer. Several other efforts were blocked and cleared as Mossley battled to regain a foothold.

It was all to no avail though when in the closing minutes the ball found it’s way to Bamber Bridge substitute Kitt Gregory who was left with a simple tap in to give the score-line a flattering look in the home sides favour and cement their place at the top of the League.

Wiz