Mossley played some of their best attacking football of the season to beat Colwyn Bay emphatically at Seel Park tonight. The Welsh visitors played some attractive football at times but were unable to penetrate a solid Mossley back line who never looked like conceding while by contrast the Lilywhites were a threat with every attack.
The win was marred however by a second half injury to Matty Taylor which looks to have unluckily curtailed his season as he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
Mossley were in rampant attacking mood from the moment when they opened the scoring with their first meaningful attack following a tentative opening 15 minutes. Adam Morning won a corner on the left and Josh Howard's inswinging flag kick was flicked home at the near post by the head of Rhodri Giggs.
Leon Mike and Chris Downey were starting to cause untold problems for the visitors defence and only a tendancy to overplay in the final third was holding the Lilywhites back from further goals. Downey had a goal bound shot charged down, Mike was opening the Bay defence with alarming ease and Steve Sheil saw his effort come back off the post as Mossley began to dominate.
The second goal duly arrived in the 37th minute with a real 'goal of the season' contender. Howard played a through ball for Mike who held off his markers before flicking the ball into the path of Chris Downey who brilliantly rifled home an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
Colwyn Bay attempted to force the pace in the second half but were always harried and chased off their game by a Mossley side who played with real zest and hunger.
The deserved third goal came in the 66th minute, five minutes after Taylor's unfortunate injury, and was again a goal of high quality. The outstanding Leon Mike and Jordan Goodeve opened the Bay defence, the latter played the ball wide left to Adam Morning who's early low cross was finished in style by Chris Downey at the far post.
Mario Daniel replaced Howard to give Bay another set of problems but the final highlight of an excellent night's football belonged to the player most in need of some luck in front of goal. Giggs' sublime through ball found substitute Gavin Salmon who raced past the last defender before firing a fine curling shot past a stranded keeper from 20 yards for his long awaited first goal for the club with what was his first involvement of the game.