
pic by UK Vegan
Mossley were held to a draw at Kendal Town on Tuesday evening after leading 2-0 at the interval in a feisty encounter that saw three red cards.
Still without the injured Ben Richardson, Mossley were also bereft of captain Andy Keogh who was unwell.
Jes Uchegbulam returned to the starting line up while recent addition Antony Brown was given his first start and both players were heavily involved in a one sided first half where Mossley completely outplayed their hosts.
Brown hit the post from close range in the opening minutes but a spell of heavy pressure brought Mossley reward in the 15th minute. Kane Hickman's lofted ball into the danger area saw Antony Brown climb above keeper Morgan Bacon to head home his first goal ion Mossley colours and give the Lilywhites a deserved lead.
Soon after Kendal were reduced to ten men when Michael Sampson was dismissed for a second bookable offence for fouls on Brown.
Mossley's pressure continued and the Lilywhites were rewarded again on 35 minutes. Uchegbulam once again tormented his marker on the right before crossing to the far corner of the box where Dylan Fitzgerald was waiting to curl a great shot beyond Bacon into the top corner from 20 yards.
Having totally dominated the first half Mossley looked well placed for a comfortable first away win of the season. However, fate had other ideas.
Mossley appeared in cruise control when with 20 minutes remaining keeper Lovell spilled a greasy ball from Birch's left wing cross giving the towering Hugo Rodriguez an easy close range tap in.
Suddenly Kendal realized they were still very much in the game and for the first time looked to be a real attacking threat. Tackles began to fly in and tempers became frayed as the referee brandished several yellow cards culminating in a 20 man fracas that saw Mossley's Dylan Fitzgerald and Kendal's Jamie Hodgson both shown straight red cards for their roles in the incident with only two minutes of normal time remaining.
The resulting free kick from near the right touchline just inside the Kendal half was lofted high into the Mossley box by keeper Bacon. Lovell appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball and Hugo Rodriguez was in the right place to again score from close range to earn Kendal an unlikely point.
Mossley substitutes Mulvey and Waller both had chances to restore the lead in stoppage time but both were off target from good positions and Mossley were forced to settle for one point when for so long three points seemed a certainty.