Mossley 1 Newcastle Blue Star 1A battling performance against an effective Newcastle side. (if only Kevin Keegan could say that!) The game started with plenty of talk about what the finances of the new chairman could bring to the club. However, as the game started it seemed like the afternoon could be another one to forget. It came as no surprise when Emms scored after only 7 minutes. Sadly it was an all too familiar story as Mossley had cleared the ball twice, but the defence seemed asleep as the ball was slung into the far post. Anyone who witnessed the performance at Chorley would have been surprised to see Daryl Weston and Michael Fish on the bench, and injuries to Aaron Kirk and Richard Conway brought two changes with just over half an hour on the clock. Both players seemed determined to earn a start next time out and Fish ran and chased everything. He levelled the scores early in the second half when neat play by Blackshaw who may have been fouled, resulted in the ball falling to Fish who drove the ball home from the edge of the box. This added a little more momentum to the Lilywhites, with Fish and Weston in particular proving very determined to earn a win. However, mention must be made again to Leon Henry who seems adept at playing a number of positions. Fish almost netted a spectacular winner when trying to lob the keeper from 40 yards. Weston had a chance near the end but shot over the bar. Newcastle must have wondered how they left without the points, but without being too blunt, the profligacy of Novak was the cause, although great work from both Connors (Lee and Ashley) rescued Mossley on more than a few occasions. All in all a point gained rather than two dropped, but as the game progressed and Newcastle missed chance after chance, you began to wonder.
