Skipper Andy Keogh got Mossley out of jail with a late equaliser in the season’s opener against a lively Kendal Town at Seel Park on Saturday.

It was a draw that would inevitably disappoint a slick young Kendal side who will feel they ought to have taken maximum points against a Lilywhites side who for the most part lacked their potential fluency.

It all started off well enough for the Lilywhites and they capitalized in the 9th minute.
Successive corners saw first Javan Benjamin’s excellent left wing in-swinger turned away for a right wing corner by keeper Will Kitchen. This time John Bennett’s near post strike was flicked goalwards by Andy Keogh with the ball cleared from over the line by a Kendal defender. The eagle eyed linesman spotting that the ball had indeed crossed the line and Mossley were ahead.

Mossley looked a little disjointed going forward and a tendency to play the long ball wasn’t aiding their cause as Kendal began to dominate as the half wore on.
Liam Flynn was called upon to make a couple of good saves before the visitors equalised just a couple of minutes before the break.

A stray midfield pass was picked up by the speedy Danny Forbes and he slipped the ball through for Oliver Wood to clip the ball past the advancing Flynn from ten yards.
The game turned on it’s head seven minutes after the break. A deflection in a busy Mossley box saw the ball strike Desi Flanagan on a raised arm and the referee had no hesitation. Kendal skipper Sam Bailey sent Liam Flynn the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.

Buoyed by the goal Kendal took control of the game with quick passing and good movement as Mossley were forced into regular desperate clearances with little outlet or respite.

On more than one occasion Mossley were thankful to Liam Flynn for some excellent goalkeeping and the outstanding Kyle McGonigle who was a rock in the heart of a busy Mossley defence.

After putting in an excellent stint Kendal’s young side began to tire and Mossley, for the first time in the half started to look a threat again. Substitute Connor Bower coming close when his goal-bound effort was cleared off the line before Mossley finally equalised with just three minutes of normal time remaining.

McGonigle’s throw in from the right somehow found it’s way across the box to Jonah Gosling who teased a delicate cross for Andy Keogh to head home from six yards.
It was Mossley who pressed for a late winner but Kendal held on to earn a point that was the least their performance deserved.

Wiz

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