Boss Band pleased with preparations

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MOSSLEY’S new-look squad is taking shape nicely and has impressed joint-boss Peter Band in three pre-season friendly fixtures so far.

The Lilywhites get their 2014-15 Evo-Stik League Division One North campaign under way on Saturday, August 16, with a tricky-looking trip to Harrogate Railway Athletic.

They follow that opener with back-to-back home fixtures against past giants Northwich Victoria and Salford City, who have recently benefitted from a takeover by Manchester United ‘Class of 92’ stars Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Saddleworth’s Paul Scholes.

It’s going to be a tough start for Mossley, but Band has taken encouragement from a 1-0 win against Stalybridge Celtic, a 5-1 thumping of Abbey Hey, and a 2-0 defeat by Conference National big guns Altrincham.

Saturday’s scheduled fixture at Winsford United was rained off.

“Myself and Lloyd (joint-manager Morrison) have been pleased with the performances so far this summer,” said Band.

“Seven of the 11 players who started against Stalybridge hadn’t even played for the club before, but we gelled pretty well and deserved to win.

“We lost to an own-goal and a penalty against Altrincham, while a lot of the players have looked really sharp, including Dougie Carroll who scored a cracker when we beat Abbey Hey.

“Overall it’s been a positive start to pre-season.”
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