Bank Holiday Bonus

Mossley 3 Burscough 2

Mossley recorded their second win in three days with a battling win at Seel Park on Bank Holiday Monday. The game seemed rather similar to the previous home game against Ilkeston Town with some awful weather as torrential rain struck the game to leave a greasy surface. Burscough were possibly seen as one of the favourites in the Unibond Premier this season, and they also have an excellent past with a 2003 FA Trophy success to their name, and last season they conquered League One Gillingham in the FA Cup.



The game started with the Lilywhites seemingly aware of who they were facing as they were pinned almost entirely in their own half, although the first Mossley attack of note almost opened the scoring as Anthony Bingham struck the bar with a thumping header. However as in the last home match, losing the ball in midfield proved costly as Price gave Burscough a totally deserved lead. However, Mossley soon fought back and Bingham banged home the leveller when his shot squirmed through the fingers of McMillan. Now I know it was raining but the Burscough keeper will be jolly glad Liam hasn't been let loose with the video camera this season.

Sadly the game saw a horrifying incident minutes later and was possibly caused by the greasy surface when Burscough defender Liam Bowen crashed head first into the concrete perimeter wall. He hit the wall so hard that it broke in five places and the shock also caused him to have a seizure. Luckily his injuries don't sound as serious as seemed at first and the player discharged himself from Tameside Hospital later on Monday evening. He obviously knows the reputation of the NHS in Tameside.

The second half started with Burscough dominating proceedings and it only seemed inevitable that they would take the lead. However, Danny Trueman had other ideas as he pulled off multiple wonder saves to defy the visitors and Mossley took the lead when a Melford Knight header flew into the net to give Mossley the lead. However, there was still almost 20 minutes remaining which gave Burscough more than enough time to get back in the game but Trueman was still defying them. Burscough levelled in spectacular fashion when Price hit a rasping shot high into the Mossley net. Mossley sides in the past may have folded and even lost the game, but this side were showing some excellent spirit, and Danny White netted the winner with another header from a freekick.


This was an excellent win for the Lilywhites against a very good side. To be brutally honest it was undeserved but it's nice for once to commit daylight robbery as often we seem to be on the receiving end of it. However, 3 points are 3 points and this win sees the Lilywhites tucked in behind the pacesetters in 10th place and after a shaky start the team is looking a lot more confident playing in the Unibond Premier League.

Off The Mark

Grantham Town 1 Mossley 2

Mossley finally got their first points of the season. (Maybe I'm a jinx as I didn't attend the game due to being at Lords watching Lancashire in the C&G Final.) I was a bit despondent when a text came through with the half time score of being 1-0 down. At the time the cricket was still going well but I thought anything can happen in 45 minutes and it obviously did. Changes to personnel were made at half time resulting in Martin Allison's first appearance of the season and he equalized with Mossley's very own Peter Pan in the form of Andy Thackeray netting a last minute winner. What is it with Thacks and scoring in Lincolnshire as he also netted at Spalding a couple of years ago. (I was late for this match and missed his goals, so maybe if I stay away from matches he will become a prolific goalscorer!!!)

Anyway, the result hopefully kickstarts the season, and there's an an opportunity for points tomorrow with a home clash against Burscough who recorded a 4-0 home win against Ossett Town on Saturday and currently lie in 5th place in the table. This gives us a chance to test ourselves against one of the pacesetters. Also, tomorrow sees our match on the pools coupon so I wonder if Mossley will be pronounced correctly.

Ilkeston Today Quotes

Scott pointed out that Saturday's win at Mossley had an important psychological effect because last year's away record was so poor.

"Last season, we hardly won away and now we have played one away and won it," he added.

A good pre-season was translated into an opening day victory to the delight of Ilkeston Town manager Nigel Jemson

Although Mossley made it close at the end, he pointed to Ilkeston's first half control when he felt they could have scored three times.

Jemson was happy with the approach of his squad, who kept playing the passing game he preaches.

And in the final minutes, they never looked like ending up with just a draw.

That was a big change on last season, when a poor away record was a blight on the campaign and kept alive the relegation worries.

After the win at Mossley, Jemson said: "It has been a hard pre-season but a good one.

"This was never going to be an easy game. Mossley had nothing to lose but we gave a professional performance and did our job.

"We were comfortable winners. We had chances in the first half and it could have been 0-3 by half-time."

Jemson outlined his disappointment to concede two goals, saying the second was the result of giving Mossley too much time to cross the ball.

"That is something we have got to cut out. We put ourselves under pressure," he said.


What does a touchline ban mean?

The manager completed a touchline ban on Tuesday, declaring it was "hard work" to be forced to watch from the stands.

I didn't see him watching from the stands on Saturday!

Still pointless

Marine 1 Mossley 0

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside. That was a little better as Mossley showed that maybe they do belong in the Unibond Premier. Jason Beckford shuffled the side round possibly deciding that stopping leaking goals can help pick up points sooner rather than later. Danny Trueman made his debut in goal and showed a really commanding performance with confident handling of crosses into the Mossley penalty area, which does seem to have been a problem recently. Mossley seemed more than capable of holding Marine but still seemed to lack a little confidence going forward. The pitch looked great on the surface but some bizarre bounces told a different story. As the first half progressed Mossley seemed to grow a little in confidence as the new formation appeared to be working. Kenny Mayers played a lone role up front with able support from the livewire Bingham whenever Mossley attacked. As the second half progressed there was even the possibility that Mossley could snatch a result but the attack seemed to lack the confidence to push forward, possibly bearing in mind that a point in their first away game wouldn't be a bad result. As the game entered the latter stages it seemed that only a mistake was going to decide this game. In fairness to the hosts, the winner was a cracking goal as Lee Mulvaney thumped a 25 yard drive past Trueman with just over 10 minutes remaining. Mossley tried to force an equalizer with Chris Downey coming on to try and force an equalizer but sadly it was not to be, with the best effort being Danny White's header which was cleared off the line. All in all this performance whilst not free flowing and entertaining contained a lot more positive moments than last Saturday. Hopefully it will be third time lucky at Grantham on Saturday.

Weekend Roundup

Well after Saturday's damp squid of a start (on and off the pitch) it's time to have a look round the leagues. I'll try to do this each week if I can be bothered.

The two clubs who came up with Mossley both made flying starts to their campaigns with Kendal beating Radcliffe Borough 3-1 and Fleetwood recording an excellent 4-2 win away at Ossett Town. Adam Morning marked his debut for Woodley with an early goal in their 2-2 draw at Belper. Our old friends Clitheroe won 3-1 at Kidsgrove which was all the more remarkable after sacking their manager on Friday night. Back in our old surroundings FC Utd lead the way with a maximum 9 points from their opening 3 games in the NWCL. Stone Dominoes struggle at the bottom with just 1 point. Whilst, Silsden, Glossop and Formby lie below them pointless, mention must be made of Stone's defensive record , having conceded 18 goals in 3 games.

Droylsden top the Conference North after a maximum haul from their first 3 games with Hyde pointless near the bottom. Also worthy of mention is Danny Meadowcroft who has played the last two games for Morecambe in the Conference.

Looking ahead to this week, tomorrow sees a trip to Marine and hopefully a better outcome and performance than Saturday.

Mossley 2 Ilkeston Town 3

Oh dear!!

Well that was a great welcome to the Unibond Premier League. It was the first day of the season when supporters don their new shirts and turn up in garish shorts etc. Well it poured down and instead of Tshirts and shorts, it was time to get out the coats and umbrellas. So, that was the first change from the usual start to the season and the next one is that we have started the last two Unibond campaigns with 5-0 and 7-0 wins. Sadly that was nowhere near today.

Ilson started well and it was looking like men against boys, although listening to Nigel Jemson's rants (more of that later) it was no wonder they played like men. Sadly Mossley just didn't look at the races in the first quarter of an hour but Mossley suddenly realised that by playing football (ie. pass the ball to a team mate instead of hoofing it in the air) things could work. It was a shame that it took centre half Terry Bowker to show the way as he decided he was our right winger as well. The cross he put in could well have given Mossley the lead but Andy Thackeray failed to put away a great chance. Why our right back was suddenly our striker God only knows but at least it was a chance.



After losing the ball in midfield, Mossley probably found the difference between Unibond Premier and Unibond 1, as a curling shot from McSweeney gave Ilson a deserved lead. Mention must be made here to Nigel Jemson, who older fans may remember as the striker who Brian Clough signed for Forest (someone correct me if I'm wrong) after a recommendation from his grocer. Maybe Becks should start walking round the local shops in Mossley!! Anyway back to Mr.Jemson. He was serving a touchline ban, but presumably this ban only meant he couldn't stay in the dugout as he certainly wasn't banned from the Bus Shelter touchline. He paraded up and down screaming abuse at his players, but to be fair to him he gave out a lot of banter, as well as taking a fair amount. The thought of Grant v Jemson made us chuckle.

Anway Mossley started the second half with a fair amount of lethargy, and the content of the half time tea is rather disconcerting. It came as no surprise when Ilson doubled their lead as hesitancy from Bracey allowed a simple tap in for Muller on the hour mark. This at least brought a change as Bingo came on and halved the deficit with his first touch after a combination of White and Knight headed the ball on.



This could have given a foothold into the game but the lead was extended when Bowker sent a thumping header past Bracey but sadly at the wrong end. At this point it seemed that the Lilywhites may suffer a rather heavy defeat on the opening day but Bingham reduced the arrears with just over five minutes remaining, but Ilson never really looked liked conceding another goal which would have given Mossley an undeserved point.

At last!!!!

It seems to have taken ages although it's not that long since the World Cup final, but it's time for real football. What's going to happen? Who knows.........

Well we know we are Mossley so we will probably top the table in the next fortnight and then things will go pear shaped, although that didn't happen last season.

The one thing I can definitely predict is plenty of finger nail biting and comfortable half time leads that degenerate into hanging on during the second half.

The games I have seen pre-season leave me full of optimism but we are going up a league. In all honesty I would settle for mid table but let's get the show going.

Oh and if any of the players find this, relax and enjoy your game as Grant isn't back from Crete for a couple of weeks.

The last two years have seen 5-0 and 7-0 opening day victories, but it's Ilson tomorrow (Ilkeston Town) so I'd take any win. Go on then. I'll put my head on the chopping block.....

Mossley 2 Ilkeston Town 1 (after going 1-0 down!!!!)