It was a solid performance by Mossley. They were by far the better side, had the lion's share of possession, and nearly cocked it up. Dave Young has already thanked his team mates after his error gave Prescot the lead (and he'd been a bit lucky in the first half when 'fouled', apparently).
Dave doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as his keeper at the moment, and they both need to work it out and trust each other, or more goals may follow. Still, at least he didn't get booked for dissent!
Here's the report -
Prescot Cables 1, Mossley 2
Mossley dominated Cables at Valerie Park on Saturday and
deservedly took the points that saw them reach the summit of the Evo-Stik
North, but despite bossing possession they had to come from behind to do it.
Steve Halford switched back from last week’s 4-4-2 to the more familiar 3-5-2, restoring himself to the line up, with Ashley Young finally making his debut after a frustrating wait for international clearance and Gavin Salmon replacing injured Sam Hind up front.
Mossley started brightly – Martin Pearson in goal didn’t
have a touch until the seventh minute by which time Gorton & Halford had
already been agonisingly close to a whipped free kick, the ball just a
millimetre away from both their heads.
This was to be story of the first half, the Lillywhites
controlling the ball but not actually forcing their former keeper Xavier Parisi
into a save. Kayde Coppin had an excellent game, buzzing
around the back four of Prescot causing them problems all afternoon with his
off the ball running, pace and control.
But they just couldn’t create a major chance.
Adam Mather headed over, the cross just behind him so he
couldn’t angle the effort. Salmon’s
poked effort – offside as it turned out – was well saved at the near post. Coppin’s shot bounced dangerously in front of
Parisi, and the keeper had to gather at the second attempt. Jason Gorton was on
the stretch as he latched onto Dave Young’s long ball but was stretching for
the shot and could only lift it into Parisi’s arms.
Indeed, it was Prescot’s Glyn Barker who was the only man
to put the ball in the net in the half when smashing a shot past Pearson after
seemingly taking advantage of Dave Young hesitation, allowing the ball to
bounce past him. Young was fortunate that
the referee saw a teeniest of tugs on him and had already blown as Barker hit
the shot.
However, Young wasn’t so lucky less than a minute into
the second half when he was caught in two minds, unsure whether to pass back to
his keeper or turn out of trouble with Barker on his shoulder. Instead, the mind fuddle caused him to stand
on the ball, fall over, and gift a clear run on goal to Barker. He made no mistake.
Credit to Mossley though, the blow of conceding sharpened
their edges up front, and suddenly their dominance of possession was providing
a real threat on goal. A looping header
from Gorton was well tapped over by Parisi, but on 55 minutes the leveller did
come.
The midfield slipped a ball between full back and centre
half and Kayde Coppin spun at the corner of the 6 yard box and shot across the
keeper into the far corner. It was a
goal his performance had deserved.
5 minutes later, the visitors had the lead. A clumsy tackle on Mather gave away a free
kick at the corner of the 18 yard box. Banda
received a yellow card and treatment for his sin, and his absence at the free
kick caused confusion in the home ranks.
Dave Young swung in a low cross that was allowed to bounce in the box
and then into the far corner of the net.
No-one celebrated more than Young, delighted his error had been
rectified.
In the remainder of the game, Mossley looked more like
extending their lead than Prescot drawing level. Richardson had a shot from an angle saved at
the near post, Halford had a goalwards header comfortably cleared off the line
and closest of all Halford’s diving header from Mather’s cross hit the post and
bounced away.
An extra goal would have made it more comfortable, but
who’s complaining? Last season Mossley
won ten games in total, this season they already have half that from six
games. They will travel to Radcliffe
Borough next Saturday with confidence.
Team – Pearson, Richardson (Haslam), D Young, O’Brien,
Halford, Gorton, A Young (Gee), Coo, Coppin, Salmon (Madeley), Mather
Subs – Madeley, Gee, Yearwood, Haslam, Band.
