MOSSLEY 2, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2
Mossley again showed they are never beaten as they fought from behind to draw at home to Stalybridge Celtic in their final pre-season friendly.
The Lilywhites, 2-0 behind with almost an hour played, displayed a never-say-die spirit to come back from the dead.
Goals from Bailey Marsden and Jack Grundy, the latter in the 88th minute, left Stalybridge stunned as they had been on control.
The match mirrored Mossley’s comeback four days earlier against Hyde United, when 2-1 down at the break, they hit back to win 4-2.
Mossley made a whirlwind start as captain Andy Keogh struck the upright and Louie Potts had another chance, both inside the opening five minutes.
Stalybridge took the lead after half an hour when Ben Woods whipped in a free kick from the left, Ethan Padden flicked on the ball on and Kyle Harrison looped a header over goalkeeper Dale Latham at the far post.
Mossley came close to equalising when a header from Will Hartshorne, from a Jordan Butterworth corner, was well tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Greg Hall.
Stalybridge doubled their lead early in the second half when Osebi Abadaki slotted home a low right-wing cross from Aaron Grewal.
Mossley’s fightback began just short of the hour when Potts cut the ball back from the left and Marsden side footed an effort into the top corner.
Latham made a good save to deny Padden in the 85th minute, a chance which would have sealed victory for Celtic.
It proved a pivotal moment as Mossley made it 2-2 with little more than one minute remaining as Grundy powered home a bullet header from Butterworth’s corner.
- Celtic have signed central midfield player Cesaire Lingouba from Witton Albion, but central defender Derek Ubah has been released.