With the first team missing 7 regulars from their starting line up, the reserves were heavily reliant on the Youth team for their trip to Curzon Ashton. Curzon put out an experienced squad, including 4 of the team that were in the starting line up in the President's Cup clash at Seel Park the previous week. Both teams went into the game defending unbeaten records in the league so far this season.

From the kick off Curzon played their familiar high tempo game, pressing high up the pitch, with an aggressive loud in your face style, clearing their lines at the earliest opportunity. Great credit has to be given to the Mossley youngsters who were instructed to stick to their normal game plan of patient retention of the ball, whilst matching the energy and aggression levels that we knew Curzon would bring to the game.

The game was evenly matched for the first 45 mins with Ben McNamara, Alex Byrne, Jordon Cuff and Joe Heap more than matching their more senior and experienced opponents in Midfield whilst Tom Clarke, Andy McKernon and the very impressive debutante Matt Tierney were solid at back, marshalled by Mossleys most experienced player on show Remi Salisbury.

Mossley played the ball around with confidence and ease whilst standing up to Curzon's aggressive style and thought they had made a break through on 28 mins when Salisbury had the ball in the back of the net from a Mossley corner but the goal was disallowed for an apparent push on the Curzon keeper Buckley-Smith.

Curzon then replied with 2 chances of the own. First Glodi Kuba-Kuba headed wide from 6 yards following a cross from the left from Mike Linney, then 5 mins later it was Linney who was guilty of a miss when he headed wide at the far post.

Mossley nearly broke the deadlock on 40 mins when Byrne put Niall Swannick through one on one with the keeper only to see his chipped effort sail over the bar. With 5 mins remaining of the half Curzon applied pressure to the Mossley goal but were unable to make a break through, with the Mossley defence standing firm.

Mossley made a sloppy start to the second half, surrendering possession far to easily and losing individual battles all over the pitch. With the pressure increasing on the Mossley goal Curzon made the break through on 55 mins. Linney played in Aaron Best who turned his marker on the edge of the box and left Joe Potts in the Mossley goal with no chance as he slotted the ball in the bottom corner.

From the restart Curzon continued to take the game to Mossley with the away team struggling to get a foot hold in the game. A change was needed and with 60 mins gone Alex Clarke replaced McNamara with Tierney reverting from centre back to centre midfield. Tierney immediately began to make an impact, injecting the pace and energy that had been missing from the away teams game since the interval and Mossley kicked into gear. They took the game by the scruff of the neck and ran their more experienced opponents into the ground with some crisp precise passing to feet and movement of the ball that was a joy to watch. In addition to Tierney and Byrne dominating in midfield, Heap and Cuff were now terrorising their full backs.

On 67 mins Mossley got the goal that had been threatening. Great dribbling skills from Heap on the left saw him cut into the area and unleash an unstoppable shot through the legs of the keeper.

Mossley were now in full flow dictating the pace of the game at will, uterlising all areas of the pitch leaving the home side chasing shadows at times.

The second came on 75 mins again from Heap but carved from the skill and determination of Tierney who went for a ball he had no right to win, taking the ball fairly whilst sending his opponent three feet into orbit. He then proceeded to play a delightful ball to Heap who again waltzed passed two defenders before dispatching the ball passed Buckley-Smith in the Curzon Goal.

Mossley continued to press for more goals with Nathan Tosum's strength and control providing the home teams defence with problems and on 82 mins a marauding run from Tosum saw him brought down on the edge of the Curzon box. Heap immediately claimed the ball and from the resulting free kick completed his hatrick bending the ball around the wall into the corner of the goal away from the keepers despairing dive.

With Mossley now enjoying every minute, Tosum got his name on the score sheet. The very impressive McKernon dispossessed the powerful Kuba-Kuba on the touch line near halfway, Byrne seized on the loose ball and put Tosum through who scored with a delightful chip over the keepers head to make it 4-1.

With 3 mins of injury time played, Curzon scored an undeserved second from a corner, when the Mossley defence lost concentration from a corner which allowed Kuba-Kuba to rise unchallenged at the far post.

What was pleasing from this game wasn't just the result it was the way the young players stepped up to the mark. They refused to be intimidated by their stronger and more experienced opponents, matching their aggression all over the pitch in a disciplined dignified manner, whilst playing good entertaining football.

As they continue their education and develop, I think its fair to say that Mossley have the brightest bunch of young players coming through their ranks than any other semi professional team in the area.

Report by Rob Byrne