Mossley edged through to the second round of the NWYA Open Cup at Timperley on Sunday thanks to a late extra time winner by substitute Matthew Singleton.

Earlier Mossley had ben in complete control of the game up until the closing ten minutes of the original 90 and ought to have been several goals clear by that stage. That they weren't was down to a combination of over elaborate approach play and some solid goalkeepeing by giant Altrincham custodian Adam Reid.

Mossley should have had a nailed on penalty in their first attack of the game when Hasford-Sharp clearly had his shirt tugged as he attempted to shoot but the officials would have none of it. However, the Lilywhites youngsters edged ahead in the fifth minute when Hibbs and McKenzie played in right winger Kane Joyce who made no mistake from ten yards.

Mossley looked superior to the hard working home side in every department but were wasteful far too often and eventually paid the price. Having failed to increase the lead Mossley found themselves vulnerable as the game entered its final stage and what had earlier been a confident and controlled display suddenly became a nervous and erratic one as Mossley conceded a string of needless free kicks putting pressure on themselves.

Keeper Nick Howard, who had been largely untroubled earlier now found himself overly busy as Altrincham fired in shots at will and after forcing a corner in the final minute of stoppage time the home side finally got their reward when Alty captain Sam Grimshaw climbed highest to head a previously unlikely equaliser.

Extra time however saw Mossley re-take control and start to create chances again. However a penalty shoot-out was looming when Matthew Singleton entered the fray with just eight minutes remaining. The lanky striker was soon involved joining fellow sub Prince Amadin up top and the pair started to cause the home defence serious problems before Singleton stepped inside his marker three minutes from time to curl a perfect shot beyond Reid's reach for what was in the end a deserved winner.

Report by Wizard