Mossley 1 - 1 Prescot Cables

If, like me, your interest in football is beginning to wane, the last thing you need to reinforce those thoughts of doing something more fun and productive on a Saturday afternoon is a game that could bore a lump of concrete to tears.

And during the quiet moments in this match, of which there were many, I could swear I heard the terraces weeping in anguish. Either that or it was the whimpering of those supporters looking at their watches every thirty seconds and bemoaning that time wasn't going quick enough.

Eagle eyed readers will probably notice that there isn't much difference between this report and the 'official' one I do and there's a very good reason for that.

As I sat down to relive and write about the days stupefyingly dull events I thought “How on earth do you make a bad match interesting?” The answer was a while in coming but when it did it was so obvious and simple I kicked myself for not coming to the conclusion sooner.

The fact is you can't so I'm not even going to try. On the plus side for you though dear viewer it does mean that you can make it to the final full stop without encountering a really bad joke that will make your toe nails curl in horror and embarrassment. Silver linings, etc.

So, after all those weather and floodlight enforced postponements, there was no glorious homecoming for Mossley as their first match at Seel Park for almost two months turned out to be the proverbial damp squib. And while they didn't lose, there was little to thrill the fans of either side on an afternoon in which the entertainment on offer can best be described as meagre.

The game actually started quite promisingly but following a frantic opening few minutes during which Dale Wright fired inches over the bar for the visitors, it rapidly descended into a succession of misplaced passes and petty fouls which constantly derailed any chance either side had of gaining some momentum.

Mossley's best opportunity of the half, purely because it was their only one, came midway through the opening period when Graham Kay lost his marker to divert a corner towards goal but it proved to be a comfortable save for Cables keeper Andy Paxton.

The home side should have been behind six minutes later when Aaron Rey broke free of the Lilywhites defence and skilfully took the ball around keeper Peter Collinge to leave himself with an empty net to roll the ball into. Unfortunately for Prescot but rather happily for Mossley, the forward chose to lash at his shot and in doing so (much to the utter disbelief of those still awake and watching on-field events) sent the ball flying high over the open goal.

In terms of incident that was it for the first half and it didn't get any better in the second until with twenty minutes to go the game briefly sparked into a modicum of life again; Wright looped a mis-hit shot onto the Mossley crossbar and both sides were fortunate not to be reduced in numbers as tempers momentarily flared.

The result though was to be ultimately decided by a mistake from both goalkeepers. In the 80th minute Collinge let a corner kick pass through his hands and ex-Mossley defender Tom Spearritt punished the error by firing the visitors into the lead with a low shot at the back post. The goal was the cue for some over exuberant scenes of celebration by the Cables goalkeeper in front of the Mossley fans but little did he know that karma would take only two minutes to come into effect.

That was the length of time that passed between the goal being scored and the point in the game where Paxton came to collect a cross, spilled his catch and, in the effort to redeem his error, scythed Andy Russell to the ground with an incredibly wild challenge from behind. The referee had little option other than to award a penalty and Paxton was rather more sheepish than he had been moments earlier as his team mates gave him an expletive laden critique of his actions.

Actually the referee did have another option available to him: a free-kick, because that's what it should have been as the foul took place just outside the area. But “Shhh!” - don't tell anyone.

In most other games Matty Kay's successful spot kick would probably have set-up a barnstorming finish. Sadly though this wasn't like most other games and the remainder of the match petered out in to the insipid midfield battle it had been for most of its running time. The final whistle was greeted with an audible sigh of relief from the terraces and both sides will happy with a point from a game that neither could claim to have had the upper hand in.

The two teams meet each other again very soon in the return fixture at Prescot's Valerie Park ground and happily for those who'll be going to watch it, the chances of it being worse than this game must be astronomically remote.

Still, if you are going it may be wise take a book or a sleeping bag with you just in case history repeats itself.