Mossley crashed out of the FA Cup after another comical mixup late in the game for the second successive Saturday. Upon arrival at the game, the traffic made me wonder if Guiseley were going to attract a 500 plus crowd but something in Yorkshire must be worth attending when all traffic seems to be heading that way. However, once arriving at the ground, one realized that the traffic wasn't going to the match. The early chant from some of the Mossley faithful of 'Lancashire' was maybe an attempt to turn this into the Battle of the Roses but it certainly wasn't that sort of game. (Also, I myself don't think that the number of Yorkshire based players in the current Mossley side would want themselves to be associated with the Red Rose county, although I probably didn't help either by turning up in my red Lancashire cricket top. This was a total coincidence.)
Anyway back to the match. Mossley settled fairly well after having suffered from a mauling by Matlock Town midweek. The side seemed to be set up in a more familar 442 formation which resulted in more players playing what was possibly their natural game. However, Guiseley opened the scoring with possibly their first meaningful attack when an unmarked Stuart Gray crept into the box. Mossley actually seemed to be getting on top but weren't forcing enough openings, although Steve Burke was unlucky when Dickinson made an excellent save near the end of the half.
The second half saw Mossley start a little sluggishly but they did manage to get going and continued pushing for a deserved equalizer. One wondered if it would ever arrive as chances went begging or decent crosses flew across the box. While this was a much more positive outlook than Tuesday, chances need converting when the team are on top as there is always the chance of a sucker punch. (Sadly more of that later.....) The equalizer finally arrived with just eight minutes on the clock when substitute Christian Cooke sent a deep cross across the edge of the six yard box and Steve Burke ran in at the far post to net the leveller.
Mossley had a side on the pitch now that could possibly push for a winner which could give them some impetus for their so far stuttering season. However, the kamikaze end fron North Ferriby reared it's ugly head again as a misunderstanding in the defence saw the otherwise excellent Trueman drop the cross and gave Craig Hall the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. So we're not going to Cardiff/Wembley this year, but some positives can be taken from this game in comparison to Tuesday's debacle. The shame is that this momentum may be lost as their is no midweek fixture. However, this rest may do the players some good, but we won't know until Saturday. I believe the game next Saturday needs the team to attack Guiseley (Yes, we're playing them again. In fact it would have been Guiseley Week if we had held on for the draw as we would have been playing them again on Tuesday.) We are capable of beating them if we can defend as well as we do on most occasions (not always in the last 10 mins recently!!) and believing in ourselves. More punch is needed upfront but as already stated positives can at least be taken from this game. We just need to keep going.
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