Colne
1. Hakan Burton
2. Chris Lynch
3. Luke Higham
4. Alex Coleman (c)
5. Jon Hodgkinson
6. Simon Nangle
7. Reece Webb-Foster
8. Marcus Poscha
9. Oliver Wood
10. Alex Curran
11. Matty Morgan
subs
12. Alex Pope (unused)
13. Bradley Knox (for 6 - 34)
14. Connor Hughes (unused)
15. Bradley Lynch (for 9 - 65)
16. Kyle Sambor (for 8 - 85)
Yellow cards:
Higham, Hodgkinson, Knox

Mossley
1. Jonny Diba Musangu
2. Logan Jeffs
3. Steve Mason
4. Elliot Harrison
5. Adam Jones (c)
6. Declan Evans
7. Aaron Dwyer
8. Keenan Quansah
9. Ben Halfacre
10. Mike Fish
11. Mason Duffy
subs
12. Kyle McGonigle (unused)
14. Ben Richardson (for 2 - 85)
15. Danny McLaughlin (for 10 -- 89)
16. Izzy Miranda (for 7 - 90)
17. Godwin Abadaki (unused)
Yellow card: none

Referee: Mr J. Sheppard

 

Mossley produced arguably their best performance of the season so far when winning 2-1 at Colne on Tuesday evening.

The Lilywhites were bereft of the suspended Andy Keogh and the injured Max Leonard from Saturday’s defeat. New signing Aaron Dwyer enjoyed a promising debut while Keenan Quansah, Ben Halfacre, Mason Duffy and Logan Jeffs all returned to the starting line up.

With first use of the severe XLCR Stadium slope the Lilywhites made a bright start, the first clear sight of goal coming on 15 minutes when ex Curzon Ashton keeper Hakan Burton made a good save to deny Keenan Quansah.

Matty Morgan had Colne’s first sighter but he fired narrowly wide from a dangerous position.

The Lilywhites were on top in the possession stakes as Quansah had another effort blocked, Ben Halfacre curled a beauty which cannoned back off the Colne bar and Adam Jones headed narrowly wide as Mossley ramped up the pressure.

Almost totally against the run of play Colne took a shock lead on 29 minutes when the ball broke to Oliver Wood who fired into the far corner of the net from the edge of the Mossley box.

All the goal did though was increase Mossley’s resolve to battle their way back into the game and the Lilywhites were desperately unlucky to go in at half time a goal behind.

However, it took only four minutes of the second half for the visitors to draw level. Mason Duffy’s cross from the left saw Burton acrobatically save Adam Jones’ goal-bound header but Ben Halfacre was on hand to volley home the rebound from close range. It was the least Mossley’s efforts deserved.

Duffy was causing havoc on the left wing and his great work released Fish but his effort flew inches wide.

A second goal for Mossley seemed inevitable and it duly arrived on 73 minutes. Dwyer’s deep cross from the right was punched away, Mason Duffy drove a shot against the foot of the post and Mike Fish was on hand to fire home the rebound for his first goal of the season.

Mossley held the home side at bay extremely well thereafter as Diba Musangu made a great save to deny Brad Lynch. The Mossley stopper did well again to save from Webb-Foster and Quansah cleared another effort off the line as the home side tried desperately to restore parity.

However, anything other than a Mossley win would have been a travesty on the night as the Lilywhites played with pride, passion and an unshakable work ethic throughout a well deserved victory to move the Lilywhites back into the play off places.

Wiz