MOSSLEY 1, DROYLSDEN 0
There was an element of luck about Ben Halfacre’s 13th goal of the season which earned Mossley a derby win against Droylsden.
Halfacre knew little about the goal on the hour as Andy Keogh’s header from a corner cannoned against the striker and deflected into the net.
It was a goal that completed a league double and lifted Mossley into sixth place as they remain firmly in the promotion mix after they have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in their successful run.
Joint manager Dave Wild described it as the proverbial game of two halves, saying: “Droylsden were 100 per cent the better team in the first half.
“I made several tweaks at half time and we were the better side and on the balance of play we probably deserved the win due to the chances we created in the second half.
“It was a gutsy performance, but we have to be better in the early period of games.”
Mossley were lucky the game was goalless at half time, something only down to goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw as the former Oldham Athletic professional pulled off two outstanding saves to deny Sefton Gonzales and Luke Daly with both players clean through on goal.
The Lilywhites struggled, though Halfacre had a couple of half chances.
“Ben is a personal friend and his own biggest critic. He would have expected to score with one of the two chances he swung at,” explained Wild.
The second half was an altogether different story as Mossley created a succession of excellent chances.
Mike Fish went close with two headers, Keogh had a shot well saved and Adam Jones headed against the upright before Halfacre finally found the net just short of the hour.
Substitute Steve Mason headed against the post and Max Leonard also missed a great chance as Mossley ought to have extended their lead.
Droylsden had chances to equalise late in the game to equalise when Gonzales broke clear and nicked the ball past Ollerenshaw only for Declan Evans to make a goalline clearance.
Stephen Rigby also had a drive well turned over the bar by the outstanding Ollerenshaw as Mossley held on for victory.
Mossley: Ollerenshaw, Richardson, Downey, Nolan, Jones (Harrison 70), Evans, Leonard, Keogh (Mason 64), Fish, Halfacre (Duffy 87), Abadaki. Subs (not used): McGonigle, Czubik.
Attendance: 395.