As the sun starts to set on the 07/08 season, it turns out that victories are a lot like buses for Mossley in that you wait an age for one and suddenly two turn up at once.
After finally putting any remaining relegation worries behind them with their first win in six games at Bridlington last Saturday, the Lilywhites followed it up with a hard fought but ultimately merited victory over Garforth Town.
The first real shot in anger came in the 23rd minute from Mossley's David Boardman and not only did it force the Town keeper into making a good save but it kicked a moribund, atypical end of season affair into life as well. And Boardman was to have a hand (or rather foot) in all of home sides better opportunities that followed before he finally put the Lilywhites deservedly ahead five minutes from the interval.
Picking up the ball just outside the Garforth penalty from Michael Fish's pass, Boardman's first touch took him away from his marker before powering a low shot past Town keeper Phillips with his second.
Or if still images aren't good enough for you, you can watch the goal in real time here:
The early stages of the second half saw the visitors finally take a more proactive approach towards getting something from the game by putting their hosts under their first sustained spell of pressure. Apart from two Mark Piper shots both expertly dealt with by Ashley Connor though, the Lilywhites' lead rarely looked in any danger. So much so that when Leon Henry scored his first goal for Mossley in the 71st minute by floating the ball over the despairing dive of Phillips from 20+ yard, the taking of the three points on offer looked like a formality.
Leon Henry makes it 2 - 0 with a very well taken goal:
Mossley being Mossley though, it wasn't to be that straight forward. Twelve minutes away from keeping their first clean sheet in nearly five months, Piper exploited a rare lack of concentration on the night from the home defence to lose his marker at a corner and head the dead ball kick past Connor. As well as being a relatively soft goal to concede and giving the visitors an unexpected lifeline, it also had the unwanted distinction of being the hundredth conceded by Mossley in the league during the 07/08 campaign.
The 100th goal of the league campaign to enter Mossley's net, er... enters Mossley's net:
Somewhat inevitably this lead to a few nervy moments for the home side in the closing stages of the game, particularly in the five minutes of extra time that were added on when the Yorkshire side fired off more shots than they had done in the previous ninety minutes. Thankfully though none of them went close to unduly worrying Ashley Connor and the Lilywhites lead remained intact when the final whistle eventually sounded.
It might not have been the greatest game in the world but it was an enjoyable one nonetheless and, along with the previous result, goes someway towards helping Mossley's troubled season end on a high, albeit a low high.
It was also nice to finally get one over Garforth too. Its the third time I've seen them this season and I can only assume that their self declared comparison with Brazilian football is some kind of ironic joke being played on non-league football. The only thing South American about them is that it's where some of their forward passes and regular clearances may come close to landing in the near future.
After more poor games than I care to remember it was a refreshing and welcome change to see Mossley recapture some of their early season form in this game. It may be too little too late to stop this campaign from being something other than a disappointment but I'll take what little there is as a seed with the potential to grow into bigger and better things.
And on that healthy and rare note of optimism on Mossley80, I'll end the report and let you get on with something else much more interesting such as watching this.
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