Preparation for this fixture was a nightmare, with injuries and players unavailable due to work commitments. In the end Mossley headed to Workington with just the bare 11 players including two 15 year old full backs making their debuts, Callum Harkin at right back and Sam Rathbone at left back, both recently released by Macclesfield and Rochdale respectively.

The journey was also a nightmare with road works, which meant that Mossley didn't arrive at the ground until eight minutes before kick off.

The game started with Mossley playing five across midfield with the intention of protecting the two debutants at full back and with no recognised striker in the 11, Lee Constantine started on his own up front.

With the game less than five minutes old Workington took the lead through Andy Murray-Jones who out-muscled Mossley's back four to turn and shoot past the helpless Nick Ashley.

Although Mossley began with a five man midfield, it possessed plenty of attacking options with Joe Heap and Jordon Cuff wide on both flanks and Alex Byrne in the centre, complemented with the holding discipline of Mike Brickhill and Tom Clarke.

With 14 minutes on the clock Mossley were level. Cuff cut in from the right and teed up Constantine who made no mistake with the finish.

On 22 minutes Mossley took the lead through a deflected shot from Constantine who's movement was causing the home team’s defence no end of problems.

17 minutes into the second half Constantine got his second, again it was Cuff who was the provider cutting in from the right and he completed his hat-trick on 72 minutes courtesy of Heap.
Heap helped himself to a goal on 77 minutes with Constantine grabbing his fourth on 86 minutes.
As for the 2 debutants - Harkin and Rathbone, they were excellent and showed a maturity that belied their years.

Report by Rob Byrne