Match Report: Mossley 2-0 Stalybridge Celtic

Mossley got one over on local rivals Stalybridge Celtic in a Boxing Day clash in front of a packed-out Seel Park.

This was the first time the two sides had met in the league for 30 years, with 1765 fans making the trip to Mossley for the eagerly anticipated derby.

The Lilywhites came into the match looking to turn around their fortunes after a 5-3 defeat to Prescot Cables at the weekend, while visitors Celtic went into the game full of confidence after a 2-1 win at home to Hanley Town last time out.

It was visitors Celtic who started the better of the two sides, going close to scoring just seven minutes into the match when Obua Mugalula did brilliantly well to beat his man down the right and cut the ball back before a goal-mouth scramble saw the ball cannon back off the post and out for a goal kick.

Moments later the hosts created a chance of their own, pouncing on an error from Max Leonard in the middle of the park and slipping in Jack Banister down the left, but with only the keeper to beat the Mossley winger scuffed his left-footed shot wide and spurned a golden opportunity.

A mistake from Mossley on the halfway line then gave Celtic forward Darius Osei the chance to run through on goal, but a slight hesitation from the striker gave Ben Darby just enough time to get back in and block the resulting shot, a fantastic last ditch tackle to deny what looked to be a certain goal.

Just minutes later Mossley created arguably the best chance of the half when a cross from the left was clipped towards Jack Banister who was all alone at the back post, but his effort didn’t quite have enough power to beat Luke Hewitson in the Celtic goal, who produced a fine save down to his right to keep the score level.

Visitors Celtic then began to control matters after the half-hour mark, creating a flurry of guilt-edged opportunities that were wasted. The pick of the bunch fell to Darius Osei, who fired his volley over from no more than seven yards out after a pinpoint cross from Pawel Zuk. The fans behind the goal could not quite believe their side had not taken the lead.

After what was an enthralling first half, the start to the second was not quite as exciting. There was little to report on in terms of chances until the 80th minute of the match, when the ball fell to Mossley midfielder Andy Keogh on the edge of the box and a well-measured lob over the head of the Celtic goalkeeper gave the Lilywhites the lead.

The away side then came a whisker away from an instant reply when Cole Lonsdale’s curled effort from the edge of the box whistled just wide of the top left corner.

After surviving a late Celtic onslaught Mossley then put the game beyond any reasonable doubt when Ben Darby broke down the left and put the ball on a plate for substitute Alfie Belcher at the back post, who made no mistake with the finish and ensured his side would take all three points on derby day.

A fantastic win for David Fish’s side, which moves them a step closer to the playoff positions. The Lilywhites now sit in 11th place, just six points behind rivals Celtic in 5th. Next up for them is an away trip to the league’s 18th placed club Trafford on New Year’s Day.

As for James Kinsey’s men, they can take positives from the performance despite the disappointing result, and they have no time to dwell on things with a tough game at home to Avro on Saturday (December 30) to come.