Mossley's youth team won it's second game in the UMBRO Tournament at Keele University tonight beating Chasetown 2-1 in a tough encounter.

A strong test this for Mossley against a side who's first team compete in the Evo-Stik Premier League. The game was played at a very fast pace from start to finish.

Chasetown began at a blistering pace sending Mossley on the back foot from the start. A quick well organised oponenet quickly forced a number of free kicks midway into Mossley's half and it was from one of these free kicks that the Midlands outfit took a deserved lead after 5 mins. The free kick was floated to the edge of the Mossley area and with the defence totally flat footed a header floated over the head of Nick Howard in the Mossley goal.

Chasetown continued to dominate the midfield and put the Mossley defence under pressure but on 20 mins a reshuffle in midfield saw Mossley began to get a foot hold in the game. The excellent Connor Hampson set the tone with a number of excellent tackles that seemed to inject the fighting spirit into Mossley that had been missing.

Mossley were now dominating all over the pitch with some slick passing and intelligent movement off the ball which was rewarded in the 35th min when Brad Byrne burst into the area following a neat one-two with Kyle McDonagh only to be upended by the Chasetown full back. Brad Byrne picked himself up to neatly dispatch the penalty kick into the bottom right hand corner giving the keeper no chance.

Mossley were now dominating proceedings and should have gone 2-1 up on 40 mins when a great run and cross by Nathan Martin down the Mossley left flank left Alex Byrne totally unmarked but from 3 yards out facing an open goal he smashed the ball against the Chasetown upright meaning the teams went in at half time locked at 1-1.

The second half began very much as the first had ended with Mossley on the front foot. Brad Byrne and Antony Dorney who was on for Joe Heap were causing the Chasetown defence problems with there strength and pace.

Tackles began to come in thick and fast and the game threatened to boil over on 55 mins when a very late tackle from behind on Matty Clarke in front of the Chasetown supporters led to several players from both sides and Chasetown coaches getting involved. This only served to knock Mossley out of their stride and allow their opponents back in the game.

The tackles continued to reign in resulting in 3 bookings for Chasetown and one for Mossley. With 20 mins left Mossley's superior quality began to tell and on 73 mins the Chasetown defence was breached in a move involving Brad Byrne and Antony Dorney who cut through the heart of their defence with Dorney smashing a low drive into the bottom corner of the goal.

Chasetown pressed for the equaliser with 15 mins to go and created a few half chances but nothing that really threatened the Mossley goal.

Report by Rob Byrne