Mossley retained top spot in the League with a sensational second half display that brought four goals without reply against in-form Runcorn Linnets in front of just under 700 fans at a breezy Apec Taxis Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Lilywhites opened the game on the front foot and maintained it, created chances, stifled the usually potent Runcorn strikeforce and in the end could have won by even more.
Harry Pratt had the first chance of the game in the opening minutes and was unfortunate to see his powerful drive fly inches wide. Kane Hickman was next to try his luck but his attempt to curl one in the top corner from 25 yards was denied by Linnets keeper Joe Young.
Runcorn came to life and won a couple of corners but Mossley's defence coped comfortably with the threat as Linnets were unable to create anything meaningful against a dominant Evans and Matthews.
The half ended with Hickman again testing Young as the keeper dived to his right to keeep out the Mossley midfielder's powerful drive and honours were still even at the break.
Runcorn had failed to use any advantage of the strong breeze which blew diagonally right to left across the Linnets hybrid pitch and the said wind was now in Mossley's favour as the second half opened but, unlike their hosts, Mossley took full advantage.
Runcorn found themselves having difficulty getting out of their own half as Mossley pressed them hard and ther reward arrived only five minutes after the restart. Great work by Kain Dean on the left earned Mossley a corner. The increasingly influential Mason Fawns' flag kick saw Matthews' header blocked but Jack Grundy was in the right place to smash the ball home from eight yards for his second goal in successive games.
The Linnets appeared shell shocked as Mossley's attacking became relentless and five minutes later Mossley were two up with a goal of fantastic quality by that man Mason Fawns. Starting out on the left wing, the Mossley play-maker beat two defenders with a quick shuffle, cut inside and curled a 'goal of the season' contender from twenty yards beyond Young's despairing dive and into the roof of the net. Fantastic!
The Lilywhites continued their assault as Fawns set up Jordan Butterworth but his effort flew wide. However, Mossley were not to be denied and bagged their third goal in a clinical fifteen minute spell. Fawns' free kick from deep on the left was flicked goalwards by Andy Keogh. Young flapped at the attempt and deflected the ball to where Declan Evans was on hand to smash home from a tight angle off the underside of the bar.
Keogh went close with a self made chance as Mossley went in search of more goals and the Lilywhites were rewarded once more with fifteen minutes remaining. Levi Phillips robbed the ball from a Runcorn defender, played to Butterworth who's pass was smashed home from ten yards by substitute Bailey Marsden for his first goal in a Mossley shirt to round off an emphatic victory.
The last word was with Mossley keeper Jordan Hadlow who pulled off a great save to deny Linnets best player on the night Olarewaju in the closing moments to maintain an impressive clean sheet and set the stage brilliantly for Saturday's short trip to Hyde United in the Buildbase FA Trophy.
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