Gazza is Mossley no-show

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: AN expectant Seel Park was left disappointed by Paul Gascoigne’s no-show.

Gazza is expected to fill the manager’s hot seat at Garforth Town, who played the Lilywhites in the Evo-Stik League Division One North last night.

But the former England midfielder was not installed in time for the encounter in front of a larger than usual turn-out of 245.

The hosts’ first home win of the campaign did lift the gloom, though.

After falling behind after to a Chris Howarth goal after 11 minutes, Shaun Higgins’ men drew level with an Andy Villerman own goal just before the break.

Lee Blackshaw scored from the edge of the penalty box three minutes after the interval to hand Mossley a 2-1 triumph.

Club secretary Harry Hulmes said: “It is a shame Paul Gascoigne didn’t come to the match.

“He is one of those players for whom all football fans had a soft spot, and that is still the case.

“We would not normally have 245 people here on a Tuesday night – a lot of them turned out to see Gazza!

“From a selfish point of view, though, I think his non-attendance was a good thing for us on the pitch.

“Garforth players would have been charging around trying to impress their new boss, so we managed to avoid that scenario.”