Mossley v AFC Telford United

Since the postponement on Tuesday night at Mossley, it’s been a week of “Will it ?” or “Won’t it ?”. However by Friday the rain was relenting and the high winds were helping to dry out the earlier deluges – and at 0900 on Saturday morning came the txt “Game On !”. After a mad “housey” morning including a trip to the tip to get rid of still more Christmas “afters”, I jumped on the 1330 bus to Stalybridge.

When I arrived at the Buffet Bar it was busy. Alan and his crew of “elder statesmen” (including one who’d just flown in from Chicago !) were just catching the early train to Mossley – the bar was full of Telford fans, Kettering fans, Stalybridge fans – and me. I met a few of the Telford fans – including the famed (on the message board anyway !) “Owd Jockey” who was in deep conversation with Trefor from Stalybridge on the subject of single malt whisky from Islay and Jura !



Aftermath @ the Buffet Bar following departure of fans !




The Telford "Michelin Man" makes himself known ...

Got the 1441 train back to Mossley arriving just in time for the kick-off. Telford were the quickest out of the blocks, and within three minutes a move of absolute quality which belied the heavy pitch saw Foster put Telford 1-0 up. Seven minutes later – they did it again, opening up the Mossley defence with ease leaving a simple chance for Marsden to make it two.






The net bulges - and it's 2-0 to Telford.



Steve Wilson prepares for more....

It wasn’t looking good for Mossley – visions of 5 or 6 were circulating my brain (and no doubt many others too !). However a chant of “Sh*t ground No Fans” might have been the turning point, because Telford all of a sudden seemed to switch off – and David Eyres started to “switch on”. One mazy run into the box came to nothing, but just on the half-hour, Eyres took a leaf out of the Telford book with some crisp one-twos, and Peter Wright set up James Turley to pull one back. Five minutes later Nicky Thompson put in a high cross from the right which got caught up in the swirling wind, totally deceiving Brock in the Telford goal for a rather flukey equaliser.



It's 2-1 - and Mossley celebrate "Turbo's" goal.

Telford had a couple of good chances to regain the lead – but a minute before half-time Mossley were in dreamland when Melford Knight got onto a loose ball after a corner to turn it in at the back post. Cue total silence from the massed hordes of Telford fans.




Tommo points a a particulary nasty patch of mud to Christian Cooke.

“Enjoy it while you can chaps” – surely it can’t continue - can it ? – and curse that half-time break. Telford obviously won the battle of the team talks, and in 52 minutes Vaughan had a go from what looked a vaey acute angle (to me anyway) and it squirmed pat Wilson for an equaliser. The heavy pitch seemed to be affecting Mossley more than Telford by now – and it looked like a case of “hanging on” – a move which has proved disastrous to Mossley so many times this season !

With less than five minutes to goal Fraser Robinson had a golden chance to give Mossley an unlikely win – but he couldn’t get enough on the header which went straight into the arms of Brock. Telford went straight up the other end and gained a free-kick, and a the melee that ensued, Birch forced the ball over the line to make it 4-3 to the visitors. The goal was not without controversy mind – there were complaints for a handball before that final touch. With just under three minutes to go Telford then did what no other club has done against Mossley this season. They didn’t “run it into the corners” or try to waste time, or “hang on” – they went for a fifth goal – and that did impress me – maybe Mossley could learn something from that !

So, a narrow win for the league leaders whose day only got better when they found out that Whitby Town had beaten their nearest rivals Hednesford Town 2-0. A narrow win maybe but the class and quality was there for all to see – so we have to give a lot of credit to Mossley for running them so close. Joe Shaw was again outstanding for the home side – but if the team could play like that every bloody week – they wouldn’t be where they are now.