Mossley waste chances

A STRING of missed chances saw Mossley held to a 1-1 draw by Kidsgrove Athletic at Seel Park in the Carlsberg FA Trophy preliminary round.

Two Chris Rowney shots in the first half flew wide, but the Lilywhites took the lead eight minutes after the interval, Mike Oates scoring from the edge of the box.

The hosts were rarely troubled so it was a bitter pill to swallow when Aidan Matranga smashed the ball home for Athletic after 75 minutes.

Connor Hampson nearly won it for Mossley at the death, but his header was beaten away by goalkeeper Steve Intihar.

The replay takes place at Athletic tomorrow night (7.45pm kick-off).


CHADDERTON’S Leon Melia answered an SOS call from manager Paul Buckley and arrived in time for the second half against Leek CSOB - only to be sent off 10 minutes later for punching an opponent.

Hosts Chadderton drew the Vodkat North-West Counties League Division One game 1-1, with James Curley on target in the 11th minute, cancelling out Will Bown’s seventh minute opener.

But the flashpoint came after the break.

Kieran Killacky had suffered a hamstring strain in the warm-up so Buckley called Melia at work and asked if he could fill in.

Melia obliged but, after finding himself on the receiving end of a couple of crunching challenges, he snapped and hit out at a Leek player.

Buckley said: “Considering we finished the game with 10 men I am satisfied with the point.

“Had Leon not been dismissed, I feel we would have gone on to take the three points.”


OLDHAM Boro crashed out of the FA Carlsberg Vase in the first round proper courtesy of a 2-1 defeat against St Helens Town at Ashton Town.

Liam Pearson pounced twice for St Helens, finding the net after 36 minutes and doubling the lead six minutes after the break.

Boro’s Damien Schofield replied with a 64th minute penalty.