After the winter break Mossley Women traveled to Rochdale who are top of the league hoping to repeat the 3-0 win against them just before Christmas.

Mossley started well, passing and moving the ball, but were unlucky to lose both Leah King and Abbey Rogers to illness in the opening 20 minutes. This was made worse when Mossley conceded the opening goal from a corner against the run of play and after Mossley had missed a couple of great chances.

On 35 minutes Lily Weston picked the ball up on the left, beat the full back and put a cracking cross in to the edge of the area were Maisie Blackshaw superbly volleyed into the top corner for her second goal in 2 games . A well deserved equaliser for Mossley.

As Mossley pushed for a second the Rochdale winger put a cross in from the right which somehow ended up in the net to give them a 2-1 half time lead.

Mossley came out brilliantly in the second half and were rewarded when Molly Callaghan smashed in a fantastic second equaliser from the edge of the box on 55 minutes.

Then on 70 minutes as Mossley pushed for a winner, the ball broke on the six yard area and as Maisie Blackshaw was just about to tap in she was hacked down from behind for a definite penalty. Up stepped Molly Callaghan to make no mistake to give Mossley a deserved lead and a third goal in two games for Molly.

Another injury, this time to Mia Riley, but she battled on and so did all the team but just could not hold out as Rochdale equalized in the 90th minute.

A 3-3 draw was harsh on Mossley but the whole team battled hard with keeper Meg Dickin making some brilliant saves and the Mossley defence again only giving minimum chances to a free scoring team while speedy winger Ella Barnes had a really good debut.

A point moves Mossley to 6th in the League with the Lily's next game at Seel Park on the 26th January against Sale.

Report by Dame Blackshaw