Coming Up: A Mossley Win

The silky Brazilian skills of Garforth Town (no, I couldn’t type that with a straight face) make their second appearance of the season at Seel Park this coming Saturday, as Mossley make another attempt to reverse their poor run of form.

And do you know what? I think we’ll do it. Of course there has to be a reason for such optimism and I'll explain why later.

Garforth are something of a paradox. If you click on their web site you’ll be bombarded with content detailing how they play football the right way, with skill and flair - "samba football". A quick glance at the fair play table tells a different story though. While it’s true to say that some referee’s may be over zealous with their officiating, you don’t find yourself second in the leagues bad boy table through sheer bad luck.
Across the various club forums of the Unibond North Town's 'rough and ready' approach has been heavily criticised, procuring them the kind of reputation that that would get Don King itching to represent them.

The Yorkshire side have already beaten us once this season, in the first game in fact, and were a hairs breadth away from beating us again back in November. It needed a last minute penalty scored by Danny Toronczak to rescue a point for the Lilywhites in a game that, for three quarters of it at least, Garforth never looked like losing.

Our opponents-to-be's league position of 8th may get some people fretting about the outcome of the match but appearances can be deceptive. While Simon Clifford's side may sit in the outer fringes of a play-off spot, the Miners are currently on a run of three games without a win - just like we are. Taking only away games into consideration they're four games without a win - erm, just like we are. Plus they haven't scored in the last two of those away games - we have! Ergo we'll win

Yes I know we're playing at home and we last kept a clean sheet 21 matches ago but its a straw and I'm going to clutch at it.

Prediction: As I’ve said already – a win, and a much needed win at that, for Mossley. Along with a considerable number of yellow cards being flashed in our opponents direction. And as well as a third consecutive sentence beginning with the letter 'a', here's another prediction: Mossley's goals against column in the league won't tick into three figures.

Now I'm off to get treatment for the heavy blow I received to the head prior to writing this preview.