Mossley were unfortunate not to get a positive result in their final warm up game of the 2018/19 pre season when going down 2-1 to Evo-stik Premier Division side Workington at Seel park on Saturday.
The visitors opened brightly but Mossley soon began to get a grip on the game with the Lilywhites twice going close before taking the lead on 33 minutes.
Mike Fish's excellent 33rd minute through ball found Max Leonard who calmly slotted the ball Reds keeper Aaran Taylor to give the Lilywhites a deserved half time advantage.
The start of the second half saw Mossley similarly in control but the visitors were gifted a soft equaliser on 53 minutes. A misplaced pass put Declan Evans under pressure and former York City and Barrow striker Jason Walker went to ground easily under the challenge with the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Walker got to his feet to powerfully dispatch the penalty kick.
The main talking point of the game came three minutes later. Workington skipper Gari Roundtree clearly stamped on Godwin Abadaki when he was on the ground and a melee ensued. When order was finally restored the referee produced a red card for Roundtree and then also showed red to Ben Richardson for his part in the melee. He then brandished yellow cards at Adam Jones and Reds best player on the day Sam Joel. Joel was very lucky to stay on the pitch as he had thrown a haymaker punch during the melee.
Mike Fish had a great chance when he raced clear but his clipped shot past the advancing keeper flew narrowly wide.
Then the inevitable happened as lucky villain Sam Joel gave the visitors the lead on 77 minutes.
Mossley had a great chance to equalise on 80 minutes when Evans went down under a challenge in the box but Mike Fish saw his well struck spot kick brilliantly saved by Taylor.
One last chance saw Adam Latham race clear but he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the far post and Workington hung on for the win.
Wiz
