Gareth McClelland made six changes from the side that won 4-1 at Ossett Albion on Saturday. Cameron Darkwah who was expected to play the last home game of his loan spell failed a late fitness test and was consigned to sit on the bench. And with Nathan Neequaye ineligible, Harry Noon and Lee Constantine led the line in their stead.

Alex Byrne and Ben McMcNamara rekindled their former youth team midfield partnership while Mike Jones and Tom Ingham came in at wing backs in place of Steve Halford and the injured Cavell Coo. Joe Heap and the recalled Dan Queeley played the wide attacking roles.

FC United enjoyed the lions share of the early possession without troubling Martin Pearson. Playing patiently across the back and then attempting to slice the Mossley back line at pace was limited in it’s reward as Band and O’Brien were a match for the highly rated Torpey and Norton.

When Mossley got into their stride they started to look the likelier side. Queeley was getting some joy down the right and had the beating of one time Mossley player Paul Armstrong while the movement of Heap, Noon and Constantine was a problem for the visitors that they often struggled to deal with.

The Lilywhites were given a major boost in the 19th minute when Dan Queeley was brought down by a clumsy tackle from United debutant James Brooks and Harry Noon stepped up to rifle home the spot kick past ‘stand-in’ keeper Adam Jones.

Pearson was tested a couple of times as United went in search of an equaliser but they were hampered shortly before the interval when Richard Battersby foolishly lunged a two footed challenge on Alex Byrne and was red carded for his trouble.

With United reduced to ten men it was a great opportunity for Mossley to strengthen their cause but the opposite happened. Within two minutes of the restart United were level. Mike Jones under hit a back pass, Norton intercepted and squared to Torpey who made no mistake from ten yards.

Despite their numerical disadvantage it was United who were now pressing forward but the Mossley defence had regained it’s composure.

Kayde Coppin replaced Queeley and soon after Osebi Abadaki replaced Constantine and as the visitors attacks petered out around the box, Mossley broke at pace.

Abadaki saw a fantastic shot cannon off the inside of the post and amazingly backspin out to safety on the other side of the goal and minutes later Alex Byrne rifled a shot off the upright as the United goal led a charmed life.

Mossley were not to be denied and with the clock ticking towards extra time Kayde Coppin picked up the ball in midfield and sliced the United defence with a great through ball for Harry Noon to take forward and fire confidently and deservedly home from fifteen yards.

With the final whistle looming United piled forward in search of an equaliser but Pearson was equal to everything, making a great double save in stoppage time to deny the visitors the extra thirty minutes and send Mossley through to the second round.

Report by Wizard