Lilywhites land late victory

NPL West: Newcastle Town 1-2 Mossley

Mossley made it three away wins out of three in the League at Newcastle Town on Tuesday evening thanks to a late strike by substitute Connor Morris. 

Mossley manager David Fish gave a debut to new signing Levi Phillips and he showed up well on the left wing and gave more balance to the side with David Kuba-Kuba playing on the right.

A poor crowd of only 102 included around 40 traveling Mossley fans as Newcastle opened brightly on a perfect playing surface at the Lyme Valley Stadium with it’s peculiar velodrome pitch surrounding. 

Mason Fawns was freed up to play his natural game in midfield and as the game wore on he had an increasing effect.

Newcastle looked to get the ball down and pass at speed but their attacking moves broke down in the final third where Mossley were able to comfortably keep them at arms length.

However, at the other end a number of promising Mossley raids ended with a raised off-side flag resulting in little goalmouth action at either end in an evenly contested first half.

Mossley came out of the blocks on the front foot at the start of the second half and took the lead within two minutes of the restart.

Mason Fawns picked up the ball some 35 yards from goal as the home defence backed off, drove forward, jinked past the last defender and fired home a well placed shot from the edge of the box for his first competitive goal in a Mossley shirt.

Mossley enjoyed a spell on top and might have added to the score as Dec Evans was narrowly off target with a hooked shot from a Mossley corner.

Keogh and Phillips then combined well on the left but the latter’s cross narrowly evaded the inrushing Butterworth.

The missed chances proved costly as Newcastle somehow fashioned what was by now an unlikely equaliser. Mossley looked well in control but, a speculative shot was tipped onto the bar by Latham and the rebound dropped kindly for Maxwell Chimenes who was able to score from close range.

Connor Morris replaced Phillips with twenty minutes remaining and the former Bradford City player almost had an instant impact but his effort was smothered by the keeper from Harry Pratt’s flick.

Mossley continued to look the more threatening and a couple of half chances were wasted before the winning goal arrived in the 87th minute.
Fawns played a superb through ball for Connor Morris to control well and score with a composed finish past the stranded home keeper. A great goal at a vital moment.

Newcastle threw the ‘kitchen sink’ at Mossley in the closing minutes and the Lilywhites did have an escape when a Newcastle shot came back off the bar but stoppage time ended with ‘man of the match’ Mason Fawns superbly keeping the ball in the corner and the points deservedly belonged to Mossley.