There was plenty of controversy and a few real talking points surrounding Saturday’s 2-1 unlucky defeat at Ossett Albion.

Mossley were again forced into changes with top scorer Mike Fish out through injury and Caldon Henson unavailable. Darrhyl Mason returned to the side and fellow new boy Damian Skolorzynski was given his first start at right back.

Mossley started poorly and Albion were able to create pressure purely through Mossley mistakes in a somewhat error strewn first half.

Ossett went ahead in the 7th minute. Rob Bordman’s free kick from just outside the box was only parried by Will Jones and Adam Muller looped home a header from the rebound with Mossley defenders claiming off-side.

The game swung from end to end for a time Tom Pratt and Jason Hill both went close for Mossley, Pratt and Mason had penalty appeals ignored while Jones made a good save to deny Bordman at the other end.

Disaster struck for Mossley in the 40th minute when out-rushing keeper Jones collided with Eyles outside the box and the referee penalised the Mossley keeper with a very harsh red card even though Eyles had lost control of the ball with a heavy touch and Mossley had covering defenders.

Skipper Andy Keogh took over between the sticks but that move didn’t go well as Keogh’s save from Bordman’s free kick broke to Eyles who set up Ross Hardaker for a tap in.

Keogh was replaced in goal for the second half by Kyle McGonigle but amazingly he was never troubled as ten man Mossley dominated the second half.

Ossett keeper Brett Souter excelled himself with a number of acrobatic saves as he denied both Mason and Pratt but ten man Mossley finally halved the arrears on 64 minutes.

Pratt burst into the box and fed Mason in the right channel. Mason crossed low and Pratt rifled in an unstoppable shot from eight yards.

Mossley continued to press but the equaliser just wouldn’t come. Pratt had an effort cleared off the line and Souter was again Ossett’s hero as he made a super save to deny Skolorzynski a debut goal from a powerful 25 yard effort.

A very frustrating afternoon for the Lilywhites as the players put in a real shift in a one sided second half but were denied to the end by Souter and co.

Wiz

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