After a flat and uninspiring performance and trailing 2-0 to a lively and hard working Newcastle Town side and with 89 minutes on the clock, a late, late revival saw Mossley amazingly rescue a point with the penultimate kick of the game.
A narrow 4-1-2-1-2 first half formation backfired on Mossley as they never got going, struggled to put passes together and were often and quickly hunted down by a lively and very enthusiastic Newcastle Town side.
There can be no doubt that the Potteries club fully deserved their two goal lead in a half of few chances.
Mossley had the first effort of the game but Harry Pratt’s effort flew wide after good work on the right by Rothwell and Banister.
However, the visitors took a 12th minute lead. A set piece from deep on Mossley’s left wing was headed back across goal at the far post and Eden Bailey was given the simplest task of nodding home from close range.
The home side rarely threatened and when the Lilywhites were unable to force home from a goalmouth scramble they were quickly hit by Newcastle’s second goal on 39 minutes.
A long ball forward was headed back into the path of to Jack Van Der Laan who drilled a first time shot past Hadlow from over 20 yards. It was no less than Newcastle deserved.
The half ended with Andy Keogh firing over the bar from distance after Mossley had actually managed to string a few passes together, a rare feat in what was a very poor first half performance.
What followed after the break was better, but still lacked real inspiration despite a much needed formation tweak.
The Lilywhites started to create half chances. Fawns fired over, Keogh fired wide and Mossley’s best chance so far fell to Bianga who had the ball nicked off his toe as he prepared to shoot after bursting clear.
Newcastle had accepted their role of protecting their two goal lead by sitting deeper and deeper, but this just spurred Mossley forward as the pressure continued to mount.
A great Fawns cross just eluded Banister and Matthews headed inches wide from a pinpoint Fawns corner.
A double substitution and another formation tweak on 62 minutes saw
Butterworth and Morris replace Bianga and Pratt. A move that was eventually to pay dividends.
Keogh, Banister and Fawns all went close before Mossley scored what appeared to be only a 90th minute consolation goal as Jack Banister latched on to Andy keogh's through ball to slot home. Celebrations were muted but the four minutes plus of added time were to prove crucial.
Mossley won a succession of corners and when Jordan Butterworth’s driven right wing flag kick caused panic in the Newcastle defence up popped Mason Fawns to ecstatically shoot through a crowded penalty box and into the corner of the net to somehow rescue an unlikely point as a massively frustrated and disappointed Newcastle team restarted to the sound of the final whistle.
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