Cammell Laird v Mossley

The day began with a mad dash down to Ashton to get a new tyre for the Smiffycar – however even these “small jobs” seem to take time, so the 1038 option to Cammell Laird was missed. The previous thread covers most of the trials and tribulations of transport issues, but we got to the game about 10 minutes in.

Mossley took the lead when Melford Knight found himself in space on the edge of the box. However he scuffed his shot towards goal, where the Cammell Laird keeper managed to make a right cock of it, flapping the ball out as far as the waiting David Eyres who steered it into an empty net. Mossley started to look comfortable after this – but just not threatening enough. The CL keeper was having an absolute ‘mare – missing stuff and spilling stuff – Mossley were unable to take advantage though – which was to prove fatal in the end.

Lairds' keeper flaps it out to Eyres - who says "Thank you very much" - 1-0

The impressive trophy cabinet in the Social Club

A quick drink in the Cammell Laird Social Club at half-time - what a lovely building - oh so 1930s - before back to football. The second half saw a double substitution, with Joe Shaw and new boy Fraser (Bruce ? he’s an Aussie) Robinson coming on for Eyres and Turley. This led to some re-organisation up front and in midfield, but within minutes Shaw went off injured after a couple of hefty challenges, which brought on Orr – and more re-“orr”ganisation – ha ha. All this kerfuffle was hiding the fact that Cammell Laird were getting more and more into the game. They’ve only lost one league game all season, and their quick neat passing movements – and use of the full width of the pitch was starting to put a bit of pressure on the Mossley defence. 12 minutes into the second half a swift movement down the Lairds’ right (yes the Mossley left – how many bloody times this season !) led to a close-range tap-in for McGuire to make it 1-1.

Chris Ward's shot fizzes over the top

Credit Mossley at this point – they didn’t buckle – but they didn’t do much up front either – although Chris Ward might have done better in one situation – see pic. New boy Fraser Robinson was getting involved – and wasn’t shirking the challenges either. With 5 minutes to go, despite the Cammell Laird pressure, I was seriously looking forward to the replay. Then the “kick in the teeth” moment arrived. Peter Wright got the ball, surrounded by three defenders and he was bundled to the floor – on top of the ball – no foul given. Still surrounded, he had nowhere to go – so the ref blows up for obstruction. The resulting free kick gets moved out to the Lairds’ right (the Mossley left – you know where this is going don’t you …) – and from the resulting cross, Morgan made it 2-1 – teeth suitably kicked – and that’s how it finished.
Trophy run over then (and £2,000 missed out on as well). Last week at Ossett, Mossley gave the home team 45 minutes start – and they took advantage. This week Cammell Laird gave us 45 minutes start – and Mossley failed to make good use of it. I thought they’d had probably done just enough to earn the replay, but it was not to be.

Today we are tidying up the house (Mrs Smiffy ran off to Belper with the new tyre, and the rest of the car !) and making the tea (I love slo-cookers - honey-glazed lamb folks !). But first we have a party to go to. It's happy 2nd birthday to Callum Broadbent, son of Mossley stalwart (and general rabble-rouser !) Colin "The Butcher" Broadbent and Lindsey. So it's off to Ashton now (on the bus !) to buy him a pressie. With no replay this week (ouch), it could well be Stalybridge Celtic v Witton Albion in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night