Despite fielding an under strength team Mossley had enough to complete a comfortable League double over Witton Albion at a wet Seel Park on Saturday.

Witton enjoyed the early pressure without causing much of a threat to the young Mossley defence as the unfamiliar Lilywhites second string took time to settle. When they did, Romanian winger Ionut Cuciorva went close on a couple of occasions.

Debutant schoolboy Declan Watson, signed from Blackburn Rovers, was unlucky to see his effort come back off the foot of the post and Curtis Connell was also unlucky not to open the scoring as Josh Higgins and Scott Thornton got to grips with the Witton midfield while Cuciorva and Curtis Connell both displayed good pace on the flanks.

Mossley attacked from the off in the second half and went on to control the remainder of the game, finally taking the lead in the 50th minute. Adam Bezzina broke free of his marker but had his shirt pulled as he attempted to shoot, breaking free he rounded the keeper to score only for the whistle to beat him to a deserved goal. Declan Watson stepped up to strike the resultant spot kick into the bottom corner.

Mossley lost Tom Doyle and Scott Thornton through injury within the space of five minutes shortly after the goal but the home side continued to press forward with Bezzina, Higgins and Watson constantly probing the visitors defence.

Mossley scored their second goal on 67 minutes. Higgins fired in an excellent cross from the right and Adam Bezzina rose highest to score with a solid header.

Bezzina was unlucky not to score another header but this time the ball came back off the bar and into the arms of a grateful goalkeeper and Connell saw a floated cross hit the bar with the Witton keeper stranded.

At the other end Witton missed what can only be described as a 'sitter' as they enjoyed a spell of late pressure but that ran out of steam and Mossley coasted to a comfortable victory.

Report by Wizard