MOSSLEY 1, DUNSTON UTS 2
Mossley’s fabulous start to the season has evaporated as this was a fourth straight defeat for the Lilywhites.
They bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy following a home defeat to the North East team in a terrific first-qualifying round tie under the lights at TotalRope Solutions Seel Park.
And but for a fine save from Dunston goalkeeper Daniel Staples in the second of four minutes of stoppage time to deny Freddie Sass, Mossley would have forced an unlikely and improbabe penalty shootout.
It would have been unjust because Dunston were the superior side and, but for a brilliant display from home goalkeeper Tom Watson, the teenager on loan from Wigan Athletic, would have won by a wider margin.
The match had been delayed for three days because all football was cancelled at the weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
There was a feeling the game ought to have gone ahead on Saturday as other sports resumed that day.
It belatedly went ahead with the players, wearing back armbands, lining up before kick-off for one minute’s silence while the club flag inside the ground was lowered to half-mast.
By delaying the game, four Dunston players were unable to make the game through work commitments and the short notice of the game.
And left-back Jack Elliott was working until 4.30pm and then had to drive from Newcastle only arriving shortly before kick-off which forced him to be removed from the starting line and put on the bench.
They were headaches for manager Chris Swailes, the former Oldham Athletic central defender, to contend with.
Not that you would have noticed as Dunston established a 2-0 interval lead and could easily have been out of sight but for Watson’s heroics.
He was first called into action in the 11th minute when left-back Liam Thear’s low effort was superbly turned around the post by the keeper.
Watson was beaten from the resulting corner which was headed home at the far post by Terry Galbraith, the former Darlington player.
Michael Fowler burst through on goal only for Watson to make a great block as Darlington almost went 2-0 ahead.
Yet Mossley, completely outplayed for the opening half hour, were desperately unlucky not to draw level.
Sass’s cross was cleared but only as far as Kane Hickman whose 25-yard screamer rattled the crossbar and Oumar Camara, following up, fired against the upright.
Watson made an amazing save to turn over Phil Turnbull’s free kick before conceding a second goal in the 39th minute.
Sado Djalo’s flick freed Fowler, 20, the former Burnley youth team and Fleetwood development squad player, who was on hand to score from close range, leaving Mossley with an uphill task.
But playing down the slope in the second half, Mossley were a lot more purposeful and were rewarded with a 57th minute penalty when Galbraith handled a Bailey Marsden cross, and Mason Fawns fired home an unstoppable spot kick.
Suddenly it was game back on for the last half hour.
As Mossley chased an equaliser, Dunston picked them off on the break and three times Fowler found himself clean through only for Watson to deny him each time as they had a personal duel.
Late on Mossley went close as Jack Grundy’s effort was almost spilled by visiting goalkeeper Staples with substitute Louie Potts sliding in should he have lost the ball.
Sass would have made it 2-2 in stoppage time only to pull off a fabulous save to deflect his shot around the post for a corner.
Dunstan would have added a third in the dying seconds when Watson denied Richard Coulson who broke clean through on goal, superbly blocking his shot.