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.
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