An excellent stoppage time goal by former Oldham Athletic starlet Andy Crompton earned Mossley Reserves three points in a high tempo, entertaining and hard fought game at the Tameside Stadium on Monday night.

Rob Byrne's Lilywhites second string fielded several new players for the 'derby' game with Senegalese former Manchester United junior Thijan Hydara, ex Stockport County and Wales youth International Craig Roberts, New Mills wide midfielder Niall Shelly and goalscorer Crompton all given debuts.

The game flowed at a high speed with both sides playing open attacking football. Mossley having the upper hand in the early stages. The pace and movement of Jordan Cuff and Curtis Connell causing the home defence plenty of problems while debutant Roberts and the outstanding Josh Burke controlled the midfield.

Curzon moved the ball well from the back but too often the final ball was a poor one while Mossley looked the more threatening. Jordan Cuff was particularly unlucky when he controlled Collinge's long clearance superbly in his stride but Curzon keeper Buckley-Smith managed to scramble a save.

Curzon were awarded a dubious looking penalty on 32 minutes when Hydara slid in to tackle Keegan but Peter Collinge saved Michael Linney's spot kick with his feet. Collinge was in action again a few minutes later when he brilliantly turned Ryan Higginson's powerful drive against the bar as Curzon enjoyed a spell of pressure.

Mossley continued to probe in the second half and Connell, Crompton and Cuff were all unlucky not to get on the scoresheet while Curzon failed to hit the target with a couple of half chances as the game ebbed and flowed.

A draw looked a near certainty as the game entered stoppage time but Andy Crompton had ideas of his own as he burst down the left channel to hit a superb dipping volley from 25 yards out to the left of the box that gave Buckley-Smith no chance and the points were won.

Report by Wizard

pics by Smiffy