Foster nets debut hat-trick in Mossley goal-fest

Non-league football: 

MOSSLEY started the new Evo-Stik League Division One North campaign with a big bang - though didn’t win at Harrogate Railway Athletic despite scoring FIVE goals.

The Lilywhites drew an incredible game 5-5 and showed terrific character in battling back from a 4-2 half-time deficit and from 5-3 behind 10 minutes before the end.

Mike Fish scored for Mossley first, before Athletic levelled almost immediately.

Lilywhites skipper Steve Foster scored the first of a brilliant hat-trick to fire the visitors ahead in the 26th minute. By half-time Athletic were 4-2 up thanks to strikes from Nathan Cartman (two) and Adam Baker.

Foster struck to make it 4-3 just after the restart, but when Baker made it 5-3 with time running out it looked as though Mossley’s game was up. Late strikes from Tom Dean and Foster handed the visitors a share of the spoils from a breathtaking opening-day clash.

Mossley play their first home game of the league season tomorrow against Northwich Victoria (7.45pm kick-off).



A LATE own-goal earned CHADDERTON a point as they drew their North-West Counties League First Division clash 2-2 at Widnes.

Last term’s hot-shot Matty Russell was also on target for the visitors as he bagged his second goal of this season.



OLDHAM BORO, however, were sent crashing to a 5-0 home defeat by Irlam.

Jordan Icely notched a hat-trick for the visitors to Seel Park, while Ben Christopher and Gary Prescott were also on the mark.

Chadderton eased up to sixth place in the table, while Boro dropped to third-from-bottom.

Boro are in league action away at Rochdale Town tomorrow night (7.45pm).