MOSSLEY 1, WIDNES 0
Jack Bannister was Mossley’s matchwinner against his former club as the victory lifted the Lilywhites into the top six in Northern Premier League, west.
The forward, who joined Mossley from Widnes, ensured Mossley maintained their impressive 100 per cent home record from three league and cup games.
Bannister struck the only goal of the game after half an hour stealing in blindside at the far post to tuck away Keaton Mulvey’s low cross.
It has a hard-earned win, which keeps Mossley on manager David Fish’s two points a game schedule, against a tough and resolute Widnes who were always a threat on the counter.
Fish admitted it was no classic, saying: “It was winning ugly. We defended and managed the game well but were not brave enough on the ball.
“We do not make life easy for ourselves. We had further chances but needed to be more composed in the final third.”
That was the case with Mossley’s opening chance as a pass was squared to Bailey Marsden who fired over when he ought to have hit the target.
Mossley goalkeeper Chris Thompson then made decent saves to deny Widnes pair Eddie Servuts and James Steele as this was back-to-back clean sheets as Fish has also set a target of conceding no more than a goal a game from their 38 league fixtures. They have let in three in three.
Bannister’s goal was a rare moment of true quality in the match.
Mulvey had a chance to double the lead early in the second half as he forced visiting keeper Cameron Terry into a decent stop.
Widnes had a strong shout for a penalty rejected after Steele looked to be caught as he cut in from the left.
And the visitors had a glorious chance in the 90th minute when substitute Michael Monaghan glanced a free header wide from a free kick.
But deep into stoppage time Marsden almost added a second following a slalom run into the box as he slid past a series of tackles only to see his shot blocked as he went for glory when a lay-off would have been the better option given the tight angle.