Strong win for Mossley

MOSSLEY had the perfect preparation for Wednesday’s Manchester Premier Cup final against Droylsden at Boundary Park as they won 3-0 at Rossendale in their final game of the season in UniBond League division one north.

The win, which helped the Lilywhites achieve their objective of a top-10 finish, also relegated Rossendale.

Mossley took the lead in the opening minute when Lee Blackshaw was left unmarked at the far post to score with a crisp volley.

Danny Egan doubled the advantage in the sixth minute when he, too, was afforded too much space. And it went from bad to worse for Rossendale when Mossley added a third two minutes later through Nathan Neequaye.

There was controversy not long after when Mossley keeper James Mann brought down Zach Jones with a rugby-type challenge and escaped with a yellow card.

And to add insult to injury for the hosts, Mann saved Danny Ellis’s spot-kick.


OLDHAM TOWN were beaten 1-0 at home by Bootle who clinched promotion to the premier division of the Vodkat North West Counties League.

Yet the Merseysiders rode their luck with Bootle’s Mark Mawdsley the busier of the two keepers.

In the goalless opening half, Mawdsley saved well from Stuart McGill while Darren Scanlan and Jake Cottrell both went close for Town, who also had a penalty appeal rejected.

Tom Hughes had a good effort stopped by Mawdsley early in the second half, before Bootle snatched victory.

Town’s appeal for offside was rejected as substitute Rob Hardwick ran through on goal to slot the ball past keeper Danny Pearson.


CHADDERTON were unlucky to lose 2-1 at Norton United where they conceded two bizarre goals.
Keeper Ben Aspinall missed a clearance and fell on his backside as Steve Colclough walked the ball into the net for the opener in the 31st minute.

Darrell Fox doubled the advantage shortly before half time as he shinned a cross which looped into the net.

Chadderton’s troubles continued when Aspinall went off with an ankle injury and centre-half Gaz Hartley went in goal for the second successive match - though he kept another clean sheet.

Chadderton pulled a goal back in the 79th minute when Andy Pheby volleyed home a cross from Ben Greenidge and the Broadway side were unlucky not to get something out of the game after dominating the second period.

Chadderton are at home tonight against AFC Blackpool.