WARRINGTON RYLANDS 2, MOSSLEY 1
Manager David Fish described it as “the story of the last two months” as Mossley lost to a last-minute goal at promotion-chasing Warrington Rylands.
The Lilywhites were bitterly disappointed to leave Gorsey Lane empty handed, and even Rylands’ officials admitted they were fortunate to pick up the three points.
Fish, whose side recently halted a run of eight straight defeats which saw them slide from top spot to eighth, believes his side can still challenge for a play-off place.
“We have matched Workington and Rylands and beaten Runcorn Linnets, all top teams, so we don’t need to panic,” he said.
“Had we been playing badly you could have said we need new players and change the way we play. But we were dominating games and hopefully we will get the luck which has deserted us.”
Mossley, well beaten 3-0 at home by Rylands earlier in the season, were a totally different proposition.
Fish explained: “We looked how we played and executed our game plan perfectly in the first half. And they had to change their game plan for the second half which was a compliment to ourselves.
“There is not much wrong other than translating performances into wins and we probably need more goals as we didn’t test their keeper enough.”
The breaks continued to go against Mossley when they had a goal chalked out midway through the first half.
Centre back Devon Matthews scrambled home a Mason Fawns corner only for the goal to be disallowed for a raised boot.
Fawns also fired narrowly wide, the two best chances of the opening period when Lilywhites’ keeper Jordan Hadlow did not have a shot to save.
Mossley did have a stroke of good fortune when they took a 54th minute lead when Rylands’ centre-back Sam Egerton headed past his own goalkeeper from Fawns’ cross. It was an aberration as he had time to clear the ball to safety rather than directing it towards his goal.
Rylands equalised nine minutes later when Mossley’s defence was split wide open and Callum Dolan, who was in the youth system at Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Bury and Oldham Athletic, raced clear and fired home his fifth goal of the season from outside the box.
Mossley would have regained the lead but for a fine, flying save from Graeme McCall, once of Everton, to deny the lively Fawns.
Just when it looked Mossley would leave with a point, they conceded again in the 90th minute.
The ball was played in to substitute David Webb who it on the run, a screamer from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.
What a way for midfielder Webb, signed from Nantwich Town, to mark his debut, just the start he would have dreamed of but a nightmare ending for the Lilywhites.