MOSSLEY 2, TRAFFORD 2
Referee Adam Watson was at the centre of controversy as promotion chasing Mossley were held to a draw at home by lowly Trafford in Northern Premier League, west division.
The Lilywhites looked set to end their recent blip – only one win in their previous four league games – when they established a 2-0 interval lead through a double by captain Andy Keogh.
But things unravelled in the second period when Mossley found themselves on the wrong end of two hugely debatable decisions.
The match official failed to award the Seel Park side what looked a stonewall penalty shortly after the restart which would, if converted, surely would have put them into an unassailable position.
After Trafford halved the deficit, Mossley were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when centre half Jack Grundy was sent off in contentious circumstances.
Grundy was deemed to have denied an opponent a goalscoring opportunity, though the incident happened in the middle of the park and about 40 yards from goal.
Trafford club officials had sympathy saying they would have been aggrieved had the decision gone against them and Northern Premier League officers, present at the game, also considered it harsh.
Mossley manager David Fish, who thought both goals conceded could have been avoided, said: “We had a lengthy inquest as we could have done better to prevent the goals. I only hope the referee analyses his performance as we did ours.
“It was the most blatant and obvious penalty. The reality is that if it goes in the game is safe at 3-0.
“Jack Grundy made an honest attempt to win the ball and you can also argue whether he was denying a goalscoring chance.
“It was no different to a foul on Jack Bannister at the other end. The communications between the officials was as poor as I have seen.”
Mossley, who remain fourth despite picking up only five points from a possible 15, got off to a flyer when Keogh fired them ahead in the second minute. Kane Hickman’s initial effort was parried by keeper Matt Cooper and skipper Keogh fired home the rebound.
And Keogh was on target again in first half stoppage time after Cooper inexplicably dropped a routine cross and the striker was gifted his second.
Keogh looked to be brought down within two minutes of the restart, but they were denied a spot kick to their bewilderment.
And to compound the agony, Trafford halved the deficit not long after with a worldy from Alfie Belcher.
Mossley failed to effectively clear a cross and the ball dropped on the edge on the penalty area with Belcher firing an unstoppable half volley into the top corner.
Grundy’s 68th minute sending off altered the dynamics of the game and within four minutes Trafford were level as substitute Mike Burke scored with his first touch.
Burke, once of Stalybridge Celtic, scored with a near-post header from a right-wing cross with Mossley again believing it could have been avoided.
Trafford were in the ascendancy and the money would have been on them securing victory.
All credit to Mossley’s 10 men as they held out and may even have snatched victory in the fifth of five added minutes.
Substitute Bailey Marsden headed over from Mason Fawn’s corner when he perhaps ought to have hit the target.