LATE GOAL SAVES BLUSHES
NORTH WEST YOUTH ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION
Thursday 2nd September 2010 @ Seel Park, Mossley

Mossley Youth

Altrincham

(2) 3
(2) 3
Cuff (26), Heap (45, 88)
Kidd (22), Langford (25), Woods (57 pen)
Mossleyweb Man of the Match: Joe Heap
1
Nick Howard
-
1
Adam Reid
--
2
Kyle McDonagh
withdrawn (67)
-
2
Harry McAughtrie
--
3
Andy McKernon
-
-
3
James Smart
-
4
Wayne Gordon
-
4
Joe Coombes
--
5
Alex Chesters
withdrawn (60)
-
5
Kyle Cunningham
--
6
Tom Clarke
-
6
Owen Davies
-
7
Joe Heap
2
7
Sam Langford
withdrawn (41)
1
8
Alex Byrne (c)
-
8
Stewart Wallace
-
9
Antony Dorney
-
-
9
Theo Kidd
withdrawn (89)
1
10
Matt Chadwick
withdrawn (60)
-
10
Ashley Woods
1p
11
Jordan Cuff
1
11
Sam Grimshaw
withdrawn (88)
-
12
Ryan Smith
not used
-
12
David King
not used
--
14
Omar McKenzie
for Chesters (60)
-
14
Matty Fearon
for Langford (41)
-
15
O'Brien Richards
for McDonagh (67)
-
15
Kieran Madden
for Kidd (89)
--
16
Tom Minnock
for Chadwick (60)
-
16
Jake Barnabas
for Grimshaw (88)
--
17
Shaun Chapman
not used
-
17
Liam Rutledge
not used
--

 

Following big wins in their two opening games Mossley faced a very different proposition in title holding Altrincham at Seel Park last night.

Not that Alty were any great shakes, but that they closed down quicker, held a solid defensive line, particularly in the second half, and that they were constantly a threat on the break.

Mossley Youth team boss Rob Byrne made just one enforced change to his starting line up with Wayne Gordon getting his first start (replacing the holidaying Alex Clarke) in the centre of defence and the Lilywhites opened the game brightly with Antony Dorney, Matt Chadwick and Joe Heap making their usual probing runs and shooting on sight.

It was Alty who struck first though, with their first attack of note. Alty's best player on the night Theo Kidd slotting home after a well worked move down Mossley's left wing.

A bigger shock came just three minutes later when Sam Langford's deep cross from the right eluded Nick Howard and dropped into the net giving the Robins an unlikely two goal cushion.

Mossley responded quickly with a well taken Jordan Cuff strike and the Lilywhites then had a spell laying siege to the Altrincham goal without reward, thanks to some wayward finishing and a couple of good stops by mountainous Alty keeper Adam Reid.

Altrincham were dealt a blow when team captain James Smart was dismissed for 'foul and abusive' in the 36th minute and Mossley were now in the ascendancy, finally getting their just reward when the outstanding Joe Heap hammered home the equaliser on the stroke of half time.

Alty looked happy with a draw after the break as they deepened their defensive line and Mossley began to struggle to break them down as they held firm extremely well and Mossley began to run out of ideas as to how to get behind them.

Then out of the blue, a rare Altrincham attack saw the visitors awarded a dubious looking penalty in the 57th minute. Ashley Woods blasting into the bottom corner beyond Nick Howard's despairing dive.

Mossley continued to force Altrincham back with substitute Omar McKenzie proving a handful on the left and Reid was forced to save well from Dorney and Alex Byrne.

It looked like Alty were set to take maximum points when Mossley forged a late equaliser. Wayne Gordon floated a cross from deep on the right and Joe Heap rose highest at the far post to head home and save Mossley's blushes.

Mossley just had time to press for a late winner but Cuff fired just wide as the game came to it's conclusion and despite the dropped points Mossley have climbed to second place in the League table.

Report by Wizard