The reserves unbeaten league record came to an end at the hands of Lancaster City. An honest well organised Lancaster team came at Mossley from the kick off and went a goal up after just 2 minuets when Ike Williams was allowed to get a cross in down the home sides left flank and Daniel Hattersley rose unchallenged to head the ball home from 8 yards.

From the restart Lancaster continued to take the game to Mossley with the away team finding it difficult to find any sort of rhythm to their play. Although Lancaster were closing Mossley down well Mossley began to get a foothold in the game and after 20 minuets had the ball in the back of the Lancaster net when Danny Murray headed in a cross from Alex Byrne but the goal was disallowed for off side. Then a sublime cross field pass from Joe Heap, who was forced to fill in at left back was beautifully controlled by Mike Brickhill who fired a tremendous low cross along the six yard box for Danny Murray who really should have scored but his effort was well saved by David Rogerson in the Lancaster Goal.

Jordon Cuff who had switched to the left flank for this game, made several great runs cutting into the box but was unable to find the final ball to punish the home side.

On 32 minuets, just as it looked like Mossley were finally taking control of the game, an uncharacteristic mistake by captain Mike Jones on the edge of his own box when he inexplicably tried to head the ball backward to Johnny McIllwaine in the Mossley goal when there was no apparent danger, only to see it intercepted by Jack Cook, who made no mistake beating McIllwaine.

On 35 minuets the ineffective Antony Dorney was replaced with Nathan Tosum and he almost made an immediate impact when he was put in by Byrne on the edge of the box, only to his effort blocked by a mass of Lancaster bodies.

The half time interval was dominated with talk of work rate, movement, commitment and attitude, things that were lacking in Mossleys first half performance. Although no more substitutions were made, several positions were changed in the hope of injecting some energy into the team.

The second half began very much as the first had finished with Lancaster keeping their formation well whilst continuing to display and impressive energy level through out the team. As the half wore on Mossley slowly began to apply pressure, with the home team dropping deeper into the own half and on 64 minuets the break through came for the visitors when Murray headed home a cross following good work from Brickhill. Mossley now pressed for the equaliser but against the run of play Lancaster forced a corner and from the resulting corner kick Anthony Stayte lost his marker and headed in at the far post.

Injuries then hindered Mossley's attempts to claw their way back into the game when first Brickhill (Wayne Gordon) was forced to withdraw on 68 minuets following a sickening clash of heads in the first half that began to take its toll and then Byrne (Jordon Heyes) on 70 minuets with a thigh strain. With the home team keeping possession well Mossley found it difficult to create any further chances and the game ended with a 3-1 to the home side.

To sum up I think it would be safe to say that it was a bad day at the office all round, with a game of two differing teams, one that wanted to win and one that expected to win!

Report by Rob Byrne