Mossley
found themselves unable to penetrate a mean Kidsgrove Athletic defence
and paid the maximum penalty with this first League defeat of 2005.
Mossley gave a debut to new signing Andy Thackeray and welcomed Josh
Howard (pictured) back to the team after his lengthy injury lay-off
and it all started well enough with Mossley spraying passes around
with abandon and some great one touch stuff looked likely to tear
the visitors apart, but, with their very first attack Kidsgrove almost
snatched the lead when Shaughnessy saw his effort cleared off the
line by Andy Thackeray.
Kidsgrove did Mossley the honour of playing passing football and after
weeks of facing ‘big hoof’ teams that in itself was a
novelty. However, the visitors proved to be rather good at it meaning
that play quickly flowed from end to end. Unfortunately for Mossley
it was Kidsgrove who were making chances as Mossley were too often
let down by the final ball. Goalkeeper Ian Willcock making several
excellent saves to deny the lively ‘Grove’.
Kidsgrove were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Steve Sheil
blocked a cross with his arm well inside the box but, after consulting
with his assistant, the referee amazingly awarded a free kick outside
the box which came to naught.
After failing to take advantage when backed by the icy wind Mossley
then faced the biting breeze and brief snow flurries in the second
half and frankly struggled thereafter to make any impression at all.
Kidsgrove deserved their lead when it came in the 68th minute. Buckley
broke on the left and Mossley’s defence moved across only for
the ball to be delivered to the far post where Patrick Shaughnessy
was arriving at pace and he fired home well with a crisp first time
effort.
Chris Downey had a shot blocked, Jordan Goodeve fizzed a shot that
curled away and substitute Mario Daniel claimed he was fouled in the
box after a jinking run but Mossley were short on ideas in the final
third and failed to get behind Kidsgrove’s defensive wall.
Mossley were split apart with almost the last kick of the game as
Paul Buckley gleefully doubled the visitors lead
to send the traveling fans home happy!