Sometimes in football you get out of a game what you put into it and this was the case in the first half against a distinctly average Wythenshawe Town team on Saturday.

Although the side that took to the pitch was much depleted from recent weeks, the application, work rate and commitment was totally unacceptable, with the main culprits being those harbouring aspirations of 1st team football.

The game started fairly evenly but Wythenshawe soon began to dominate and although their football was direct and predictable Mossley were unable to compete due to a lack of commitment in certain areas.

Wythenshawe's first goal came on 25 minuntes - a long punt down the middle from the keeper was flicked on unchallenged by the centre forward which left one of their midfield players who had made a run clear and completely free, one on one with Joe Potts who was helpless to stop the resulting shot.

Wythenshawe's second came from the penalty spot. A shot from the Wythenshawe captain was very well saved by Potts, parrying the ball to his left and in doing so clearing the immediate danger, however, the Wythenshawe player who seized upon the loose ball and was shepherding the ball away from the goal toward the corning flag when he was up-ended by Alex Chesters. From the resulting spot kick Potts made an excellent save down to his right but with no Mossley player following in the same Wthenshawe player was able to dispatch the rebound.

With the Mossley defence now under constant pressure Wthenshawe hit a third. The ball was worked down their right and from the resulting cross a Wythenshawe player headed in unmarked from six yards. Mossley did briefly threaten the Wythenshawe back four but failed to test the keeper.

Changes were made at the interval and one or two players were told in no uncertain terms that their first half display was not acceptable. However, with the second half barely five minutes old a Wythenshawe free kick from their left flank was floated in and with no challenge from the opposition the Mossley defence failed to clear their lines with the ball running to the Wythenshawe right winger who claimed his second of the match.

At this point Mossley upped there work rate and to their credit made more of a fist of it and eventually pulled a goal back. Raducio King took a free kick from the edge of the Wythenshawe penalty area which deflected off the wall and Alex Byrne pounced on the rebound.

Mossley continued to attack from the restart with King wasting three clear chances, one on the goal line with an open goal and no Wythenshawe player in sight.

Any slim chance of a fight back was effectively over with 20 minutes remaining. Wythenshawe again breached the Mossley right flank far to easily and whipped in a cross which was dispatch unchallenged into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 5-1.

There are positives to take from every game and even a performance as poor as this is no different, Joe Potts in goal had an excellent game and made several fine saves and showed the fight and desire sadly lacking from several of his team mates as did Alex Byrne who at times was on his own in midfield.

The younger players in the team will also hopefully have learnt from the experience, however, I don't think many of the senior experienced players in the team will be in a rush to hear my report to Shaun.

Report by Rob Byrne