Three is the magic number for Glade men

Raphoe 0

FOLLOWING their disappointment away to Raphoe last week, Mossley were keen to reverse the result at home to the same opponents. A win was going to be important for both teams to help avoid relegation.

After some early surges by both teams, Raphoe came close to opening their account when in the ninth minute a free hit into Mossley’s circle finished with the ball looping over keeper Owen Doole and clipping the crossbar.

Mossley settled after this and just a few minutes later Simon Todd put the home team ahead, when he finished off a free with a spectacular reverse shot into the roof of the net leaving the keeper helpless. Mossley were moving with more purpose and the Raphoe back line was having to work hard.

In the 28th minute the home side almost increased their lead when a flowing move between Mark Smyth, Todd and Andy Coulter ended with the Raphoe keeper making an excellent save from Coulter’s shot. After 31 minutes Mossley saw their hard work rewarded when Chris O’Flaherty steered home a low drag flick short corner.

Mossley began the second period well and nearly went further ahead when a drag flick from O’Flaherty was well saved by opposing keeper Buchannan. Back came Mossley and a clinical pass from Todd was marginally missed by the incoming Colin McClean.

Raphoe were battling hard to get a hold on the game, but, as time wore on, Mossley were stifling their attacks and some heads were starting to drop. The Donegal side were dealt a further blow just seven minutes into the half when Todd, Ross Beattie combined well to allow Coulter to finish with a crisp shot. Mossley kept up the pressure and Raphoe were looking a beaten side, but to their credit they kept battling, albeit in vain. Man of the match: Ross Beattie.

Thirds: Mossley welcomed Antrim seconds to The Glade in a game started the visitors had to win to stay up.

The two teams didn’t create much in front of goal in the first 20 minutes but it was Antrim who took the lead after 25 minutes with a strike from the first short corner of the match. This goal seemed to ignite the home side and it was on the stroke of half time they equalised through Joe Wray with a good short corner strike.

The second half started well for Antrim, putting the home defence under some early pressure and they were rewarded with their second goal of the game when the ball was played across the face of goal and the Antrim forward was left unmarked at the back post for an easy tap in. Again Mossley hit straight back to level things up when David McEvoy touched the ball past the keeper to Joe Wray who slotted home his second of the game. The home side then found the winner after some neat play down the left when the ball was crossed for Gerry Hamill to roll the ball under the advancing keeper to leave the final score Mossley 3rds 3 Antrim 2nds 2. Man of the match: Philip Kane.