MOSSLEY YOUTH 0, LITHERLAND REMYCA 4
Mossley’s speedy exit from the FA Youth Cup following a heavy preliminary round home defeat by Liverpool side Litherland REMYCA was not entirely unexpected.
Manager Paul Bennett had hurriedly assembled a team which was a mixture of the club’s academy and Under-17 players.
They had only two training sessions together in the five days before the tie, a contrast to Litherland, the core of their side having been together for more than five years.
It showed as Litherland emerged worthy winners, but Mossley performed commendably for a side put together at such short notice.
Indeed, goalkeeper Josh Poole, 17, who had an outstanding game, was borrowed from Avro U21s only 24 hours before the match.
Skilful substitute Kian Broadbent, a former academy player at Oldham Athletic, also caught the eye when he was handed a second-half cameo.
“I was obviously disappointed with the result, but Litherland didn’t play us off the park,” explained Bennett.
“We showed character and grew into the game during the second half.”
Mossley fell behind in the eighth minute when Lucas Smith latched on to a ball over the defence to lob Poole.
The goalkeeper then denied Smith and Stephen Foran when both were clean through on goal with important blocks.
Poole was beaten again mid-half when the unlucky Michael Lisic turned a Dominic Waite cross into his own goal, it was so accurate that it was nigh impossible to defend.
Litherland would have increased their lead but for Pool who thwarted Foran and Waite who were both clean through to make it four big saves in the half.
Mossley’s first chance in the 33rd minute was a Kian Hepburn free kick which forced a decent save from Harvey Passaint.
Litherland added a third shortly after the restart when Mossley failed to clear their defensive ranks and Ethan Highton scored from close range.
Poole saved well with his legs again to keep out a shot from Smith.
Broadbent’s introduction gave Mossley more attacking ideas as he fired narrowly over and then set up Oliver Stokes whose shot was not far off target.
Litherland had the final word adding a fourth goal with six minutes left when substitute Kieran Kenny cut in from the right and bent a low shot into the bottom far corner of the net.