BIG WEEKEND FOR MOSSLEY 23 / 08 / 12

Saturday 25th August - 3.00 pm
MOSSLEY vs
BOOTLE
FA Cup Preliminary Round
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Mossley step into the exciting world of FA Cup football on Saturday when the Lilywhites entertain North West Counties League early pacesetters Bootle at Seel Park (3.00 pm). The Merseyside club have started their season, albeit a Division below Mossley, with four wins and a draw in their opening five games.

The visitors are not total strangers to Mossley as their player-manager Neil Prince is a former team mate of Mossley boss Steve Halford at Droylsden and despite the opposition's lower league status Halford will be taking no chances and will be guarded against any complacency against what is expected to be big physical opposition.

There isn't just a place in the next round of the Cup at stake as the winners of the tie receive £1,750 as part of the Budweiser sponsorship of the national competition, which then rises to £3,000 for victory in the next round with a home tie against the winners of Staveley MW and Bamber Bridge the prospective opposition.

The Lilywhites have opened their season impressively with two victories from two games having beaten Bamber Bridge and Cammell Laird in their first two games. However, Halford will be without midfield dynamo Jay Gorton who is away at a family wedding though it is hoped that the versatile Ben Richardson will return after missing Tuiesday's win at Camnmell Laird through illness. The Lilywhites will otherwise be at full strength.

Providing their are no draws in the FA Cup at weekend Mossley will then face neighbours and rivals Curzon Ashton at Seel Park on Tuesday evening (7.45 pm). Curzon, managed by one time Mossley boss John Flanagan, are again one of the favourites to challenge at the top of the Evo-stik League this season and as far as Mossley are concerned it will be viewed as a benchmark game as far as the Lilywhites prospects for the season are concerned.