Christmas Update

Mossley 0 Lancaster City 4

Mossley 2 Bridlington Town 1

Haven't posted for a couple of months as have had major camera problems. I finally treated myself just before Christmas (I could always pretend someone loves me enough to treat me!) It's not as big as Smiffy's equipment !! but it is a compact with many of the features of an SLR, so hopefully some better images should appear over the following weeks.

As to the games, the less said about Boxing Day the better. Yesterday was slightly better and at least it was a very welcome 3 points before our visit to Gigg Lane. (We did win last time we played there)

It might help if our players opened their eyes!

More penalty area action.

Lee Blackshaw crosses

There's a ball in there somewhere.

Redfearn sat on his backside.

Lee Blackshaw and Smiffy

Flickr Album - Mossley v Lancaster City - 26 Dec 2007

Flickr Album - Mossley v Bridlington Town - 29 Dec 2007

Thank God I Went To The Live Match

I could have stopped at home on Saturday afternoon rather than visiting Seel Park. Even the highlights of England's game sent me to sleep. Now if Sky had shown highlights of the 90 mins from Seel Park. If only......


I along with many others left Seel Park on Saturday tea-time feeling absolutely sky high. Credit should be given to Skelmersdale Utd who played a major part in the entertainment. They took an early lead and for the next 20 minutes we witnessed another episode of the Ashley Connor show and to be honest without him the game could have been over.


However, this Mossley don't give in easily and against the run of play Martin Allison equalised. However, this saw the game pattern change and Mossley dominated the remainder of the half and could count themselves extremely unfortunate to enter the break a goal down as Skem nicked a goal just before half time.


Previous Mossley teams would have folded after such a blow just before the break. Actually this team may have done but we had part 2 of the Ashley Connor show. We them witnessed something strange for a Mossley side as a goal was scored from a corner and even more amazing the feat was repeated again as Mossley took a 3-2 lead. The fluidity of the attack was troubling Skem and it came as no surprise when Gareth Hamlett extended the lead. Chances were spurned to extend the lead but Skem pulled a goal back in the 5th minute of added time (2 mins had been given!!) to give the scoreline a more respectable appearance.


This was an outstanding performance full of pace in attack and plenty of passion from both supporters and players alike. I know it's early days and there are weaknesses in the team which Gerry is obviously aware of, but I feel this is turning into a side we can be extremely proud of and can get us back to looking forward to match day and it's a few years since we could say that.

Apologies for the lack of pics but my camera gave in again just before half time. Thankfully the team is performing much better than my batteries!!

The Garden's Looking Rather Rosy

I've not posted since the Woodley trilogy due to a lack of time and a few camera problems with batteries. The recent performances aren't even recognisable from the start of September.

Martin Allison scores against Rossendale

In fact, never mind a different team, it actually looks like a different game. The last two home games have been outstanding, especially the Newcastle game.

Gareth Hamlett head home against Ossett

Depending on the sources used, there is a considerable weekly sum being spent on Newcastle's wages, including some players who played in the Scottish Cup Final for Gretna last season.

Ouch against Ossett!!

Coupled with some totally inept refereeing, the spirit show by the Lilywhites was remarkable. The only slight negative was the return of the penalty curse. Mossley took an early lead when a poor clearance from the keeper saw the ball land at Paul Quinn's feet but still some 35-40 yards from goal he calmly drove the ball back into the empty net.

Lee Blackshaw

If this had been the Premiership the goal would have been replayed all weekend. Mossley had numerous chances to extend their lead and when the visitors levelled with about 20 minutes left, one wondered if this team may fold, but the spirit shone through and within 2 minutes , Mossley were back in front again.

Kitson Gayle

Flickr Album - Mossley v Newcastle Blue Star - 30 Sept 2007

Don't Panic (for a little while)

Mossley 0 Woodley Sports 3

On paper this looks a rather worrying result as it could have bee more than 3. Unfortunately, playing Woodley three times in a week has done us no favours and every performance seems to have got worse.


Some people are of the opinion that Woodley will be one of the forerunners in this league but as organised as they were I think we will play 5 or 6 far superior sides to them. However, we are under a new regime and if a performance similar to this had been in evidence last season there would be serious grumbles and with our wage budget last season any complaints after these types of performances was totally justified.


However, we can't be relegated so this is a good season to adjust and with Gerry's experience we should be OK and it will probably help to play sides other than Woodley over the coming weeks. Keep the faith as they say.

Wet Wet Wet

Woodley Sports 1 Mossley 1

A rather damp affair. Well actually a total and utter soaking. Having had to play the game at Cheadle due to Woodley's plastic pitch wasn't a wise decision as the afternoon saw nothing but heavy rain. One had to feel for the players (as well as holidaymakers arriving by plane at regular intervals above the ground) as it wasn't the weather to try and put up a performance.


The game was pretty poor from both sides with Woodley starting strongly and taking a deserved lead just before the quarter hour mark. It was important that Mossley hung on and didn't concede a second as the prize money on offer was £1000. Mossley netted the killer blow in stoppage time for the first half by equalizing.


The second half saw Mossley dominate but never quite seeming to have the killer instinct to finish the game off. (Too many funeral type references!!) One can only hope for better weather on Tuesday night for the replay and hopefully a better game to watch, especially when bearing in mind that due to the league fixture there will be a trilogy of Mossley and Woodley games.

Flickr Album - Woodley Sports v Mossley (FA Cup) - 2 Sep 2007

Not A Day To Judge

Garforth Town 2 Mossley 1

Everybody arrived full of promise looking forward to the new season but the game was marred by a broken left leg for Mike Jefferson. Mossley seemed to have started quite well when a lunge on Paul Garvey which should surely have seen a straight red card seemed to alter the pattern of the game. From this point onwards the home side seemed to win every 50/50 decision and many 60/40 and 70/30 ones.


Eventually they took over and it came as no surprise when Garforth took the lead from a rash tackle which resulted in a penalty. The injury to Jefferson just before half time was sickening as the poor player had to stay on the pitch and it took an unbelievable 45 mins for an ambulance to arrive and the hospital was apparently only 6 miles away.


One can only shudder to think what happens if one of the residents of Garforth has a heart attack. Questions possibly also need to be asked about access to the stadium if as SJNR stated there was a fire. This will all need sorting before they arrive in the Premiership. Another point is what on earth was the ref doing while Jefferson lay injured on the pitch.


Surely a ref is responsible for the safety of the players and just as a matter of courtesy he should have made some appearance rather than staying inside until the ambulace disappeared. This isn't sour grapes but surely after a stoppage of almost a hour, the game should have been abandoned. Anyway the farcical situation was that 2 mins of the first half were played and the after a short break the second half was played. Two questions here :

1) Why on earth couldn't the 2 mins have been added onto the second half?

2) Are players allowed to play a full 45 mins after only having a 5 min break?


Anyway, hopefully Jefferson will recover and be back playing later in the season and maybe the season can start properly against Curzon. I won't be there as I'm going away for a few days so Come On The Whites.

Flickr Album - Garforth Town v Mossley

Breath of Fresh Air

Mossley 3 Thackley 2

It was good to be playing at Seel Park again and after last season's goings on it was great to see Mossley playing at home. It still seems strange to see so many new faces on the pitch although at least one of last year's players played as Joel Pilkington apparently turned up to see Gerry Quinn and was give a starting berth on the wing. It was also refreshing to see the performance on the pitch and Quinn's ideas regarding football seem to be playing attacking football with wingers. This was probably a better game to judge the direction the side will move in rather than trying to judge after the Stalybridge game. Certainly thing seem positive both on and off the pitch and at the moment it's very early days but the season can certainly be looked forward to.

Paul Garvey who had a very industrious game attacks the ball in the penalty area.

A fantastic save from Ashley Connor.

Gareth Hamlet nets his second goal to put Mossley 2-1 up.


Paul Garvey heads home to net the third goal.

Flickr Album - Mossley v Thackley - 28 July 2007

Back in Business

Stalybridge Celtic 3 Mossley 1

It was a bizarre feeling going to watch the Lilywhites at Bower Fold. It felt like watching a team you didn't actually support as this bunch of strangers turned out in last season's kit. The pre match talk was of about what an acceptable result would be bearing in mind this was the first game together and Stalybridge had already played a a few friendlies and looking at their squad it contained a collection of ex-pros and players well versed in the non league pyramid. Oh and they also had Chris Hall who apparently scored goals for Oldham Athletic last season but has now harboured ideas of being an actor. Judging by last night's performance he could act out the role of a footballer as long as the script didn't include putting the ball in the net.


It came as no shock when Celtic opened the scoring and they had threatened on numerous occasions. When the lead was doubled some of the pre-match worries looked like they might surface but Kitson Gayle had other ideas when he halved the deficit in spectacular fashion. He won the ball and took it past another defender but he seemed to have over-run the ball. However, he won the ball with a strong challenge which left him on the edge of the box and he rifled the ball past the Celtic custodian. This was far too quick for my small digital camera, but for an alternative view, see Smiffy's blog or Mossley@MySpace. A dubious looking penalty was awarded but Ashley Connor made a wonderful save.


The second half saw numerous changes as both sides tried out various players, with Celtic managing to net a third goal. A very positive start to the new regime considering the strength of the opposition and hopefully some slightly less compromising opposition should give us a better picture of what to expect.

Sponsored Walk 2007

Well it's not sure whether the braincells of the intrepid walkers were intact. Weather forecasts seemed to suggest torrential rain was due at some point during the day. For pictures of the rain see Six Tame Sides. It was decided to do the route the opposite way to previous attempts as the climb up from Droylsden is pretty tough when you have already done about 12 miles. Bob had also found us an alternative route out of Curzon Ashton which although being on a signed footpath seemed to have been a route through a jungle and Topsy's legs certainly felt the wrath of the nettles but what do you expect when walking round in shorts. Considering the forecast we didn't do too bad but we had a massive cloudburst in Audenshaw and managed to dodge showers throughout until the deluge that seemed for a moment like Stalybridge may wash away. Well done to all the walkers and hopefully plenty of funds will therefore be raised for our club. If anybody still wishes to sponsor any of us it certainly isn't too late. Oh and a big thankyou to Mrs.Dydo for the bacon butties.

The start of a rather long day.

Still a few smiles.

Curzon Ashton

The sun is still shining at Droylsden, just before our 30 min wait for Topsy's bacon butty where he was allegedly seen running round the back of the shop to catch the pig!!

Smiffy checking his pics.


Bob's only been officially one of the board for hours and he's caught taking pictures of Stalybridge Celtic!

It looks like they're listening or having a board meeting!!

End of an Era

Mossley 0 Ossett Town 2

Kendal Town v Mossley

Kendal Town 3 Mossley 1