It took a penalty shoot out to separate the teams in this FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie at Victoria Stadium on Thursday night. Fortunately for Mossley it is they who progress to the final qualifier against North Ferriby United, winning 4-2 on spot kicks.

On a wet and windy night Northwich were the better side in the first half and were a little unlucky to go in only one goal to the good as they missed several gilt edged chances.

Mossley struggled to make any impact in the opening period and deservedly fell behind in the 21st minute. Mossley conceded a needless free kick some twenty five yards out to the right of the Mossley box and it was left back James Asher who reacted quickest turning the ball home.

Vics continued to cause problems for the Mossley defence and Lilywhites keeper Nick Howard and the post came to Mossley's rescue as the homesters moved the ball around quickly creating space for their lively forwards.

Rob Byrne made two changes at the interval with Mitch Wood and Jacob Malachi-Brown being replaced by Ryan McNee and Matthew SIngleton and Mossley instantly found a higher gear equalizing just two minutes into the second half when Adam Bezzina fired an unstoppable shot into the top scorner from Singleton's measured pass.

From then on it was all Mossley and it was the home goal that came under siege with Singleton, McKenzie and Bezzina all going close. Ryan McNee saw a thundering header come back off the underside of the bar as there looked only one likely winner at this stage.

Vics also had a couple of chances from dangerous corners swung in on the wind and the Mossley defence had to be alert but cleared their lines well.

However, the winning goal wouldn't come and the game went into extra time. Vics were now down to scraps as Mossley continued to press forward. Matt Singleton having the best chance when he controlled a through ball brilliantly but shot wide of the post.

The second half of extra time saw more Mossley pressure but the goal wouldn't come so it was on to penalty kicks.

Mossley took the first penalty and Adam Bezzina rifled home confidently 1-0. Ryan Valentine then did the same for Vics, 1-1. Up stepped Callum Harkin for the next Mossley penalty but Vics keeper and captain Thomas Wilson saved well to his left. 1-1. Vics responded with centre back Dylan Norris seeing his well struck shot saved brilliantly by Nick Howard, still 1-1. Omar McKenzie typically sent the keeper the wrong way for 2-1 before the decisive miss by the homesters. Theo Bailey-Jones overly rushed his spot kick and fired hideously high and wide, still 2-1. Matt Singleton stepped up next for Mossley and fired high into the roof of the net, Advantage Mossley 3-1. George Newton then made it 3-2 with next spot kick before Jordan Rutter stepped up to score the match winning penalty (4-2) and send the players racing to the corner flag for a sliding wet and wild celebration.

Report by Wizard