Mossley 2 Runcorn Linnets 0
Report by Dave Bettley; Photos from Kelly Jones
Linnets wasted a chance to ramp up the pressure on the top five in Pitching In Northern Premier League West in succumbing to an Obua Mugalula double.
The visitors were a goal down when hit by the 34th-minute dismissal of 'last man' Harvey Washington for a foul, which denied the hosts a scoring opportunity.
Despite limited opportunities, 10-man Linnets stayed in contention until Mugalula grabbed his decisive second of the game in the 78th minute.
The Lilywhites took over eighth spot from Runcorn, who drop to tenth after picking up only one point out of nine in the New Year - albeit away to leaders Widnes.
Team news for Linnets had centred on Dean Adekoya, an 18-year-old loan signing from Sky Bet Championship club Stoke City.
He was handed an immediate debut in attack after completing a one-month deal on Friday.
Neither team would have liked the look of a pitch, which was understandably heavy after recent bad weather.
Three areas of the Seel Park playing surface were heavily sanded, two of these being sizeable, and the slow pitch was challenging.
The first quarter of the game lacked any real incident - Runcorn shading it - but the second contained the three defining moments of the match.
Firstly, Adekoya spurned Linnets' clearest opportunity after being set free towards goal in the inside right channel by Peter Wylie's through ball.
In attempting to round the 'keeper, the striker veered too far to the right. It made the angle for a shot impossible and his pass across goal evaded the two Runcorn players in the box.
Within minutes, Mossley created a similar opening with Mugalula finding space on the left to run into and after advancing on goal, he slipped a precise and confident shot past Bayleigh Passant.
If having to come from behind wasn't a big enough task, it became even tougher when Mossley split open Runcorn's defence again.
Centre back Washington impeded Gee Baltazar five yards in front of the D, checking the Mossley man's progress towards goal with the inevitable consequence of a red card.
Urgent reorganisation saw Runcorn abandon their 3-5-2 formation for a 4-4-1. This change kept Runcorn in contention but left Adekoya without any tangible support in attack, although he tried admirably to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
A midfield change Antony Kay had already been planning at half-time became necessary. Karl Clair was the player replaced as a hip injury stiffened up.
Jacques Welsh was introduced to marshall the depleted visitors in the second half.
Further substitutions and positional changes followed at intervals as Runcorn endeavoured to rescue the game.
Neither side was able to create many chances but Mossley's threat on the left remained and they were more clinical when it mattered.
Scorer Mugalula turned provider with a 63rd-minute cross, which was driven against the left post by Baltazar.
Runcorn responded four minutes later with their best effort of the half.
Luke Wall's drifting cross from the left was just high for sub Adam Moseley inside the six-yard box but fell beyond him for Wylie.
The full back was denied a rare Linnets goal as his rasping shot was tipped over by Finley Madigan. It would have been only a fourth for the stalwart defender on his 182nd appearance.
Kay again tried to change the dynamic by introducing Eden Gumbs and Ryan Brooke as a new two-pronged attack in the 72nd minute. Gumbs' strength and industry plus Brooke's experience and guile gave Mossley's defence a little more to think about.
Committing the extra man forward was a gamble but a risk well worth taking at this stage.
However, with 12 minutes left, Mossley settled the issue after another left-wing move, this time involving Eric Yahaya.
The central striker's cross found winger Mugalula to the near side of goal. He brought the ball under control with his first touch, making his second all the easier.
As Runcorn continued to push and probe, Adam Moseley had a couple of half chances. But after six added minutes for stoppages, time finally ran out for the visitors
They had put in a shift but lacked creativity and spark even with a full complement.
Mossley had deservedly answered September's 4-1 defeat at APEC Taxis Stadium.
LInnets' quest for a first victory of 2025 is carried into the second Friday night game of their season with Atherton Collieries visiting APEC Taxis Stadium later this week for the return fixture of the first in October, when Runcorn won 2-1.
This will be followed on Tuesday, January 28th by another home game, the twice-postponed fixture against Stafford Rangers. Both kick off at 7.45pm.
Runcorn Linnets: Bayleigh Passsant, Jack Grundy, Naim Arsan, Karl Clair (Jacques Welsh, 46 mins), Callum Grogan, Harvey Washington, Peter Wylie, Lewis Doyle (Adam Moseley, 68 mins), Dean Adekoya (Ryan Brooke, 72 mins), Luke Wall (Eden Gumbs, 72 mins), Jaden Jones. Sub not used: Lewis Nolan.
Attendance: 521.
Comments