HYDE UNITED 5, MOSSLEY 1
YOU would imagined Mossley would have learned from their mistakes as they were heavily beaten at high-flying Hyde United in an Evo Stik League, first division north derby.
That was not the case as Hyde’s first four goals all came from long balls over their defence as Mossley were caught out time and time again by naïve defending and the same suck punch on an artificial pitch that favoured the home team.
Yet mid-table Mossley, who had right-back Logan Jeffs sent off early in the second half for a second book, were still in the hunt at 2-1 down until the 76th minute.
“The manner in which we conceded the last three goals as disappointing, but we were still in the game until the stupid sending off. It was definitely not a 5-1 game, though that is the scoreline,” explained joint manager Lloyd Morrison.
Despite conceding 14 goals in their last three league games, Morrison says that is not the problem.
“We have no midfield enforcers and that is what we are lacking. Every team in our league has one or two of them, and that is what we need to protect the back line,” he continued.
Mossley made a terrible start falling behind in the second minute with a ball over the defence that Harry Coates ran through to slot home.
Tom Pratt went close and Dominic Marie struck an upright before rampant Hyde doubled their lead after 26 minutes when they were done by another ball over their defence as Marie raced clear to score.
Mossley, completely outplayed in the opening period, halved the deficit in stoppage time through an excellent finish from Liam Ellis who produced a delightful turn and control before firing home.
Jeffs’ sending off seven minutes after the restart changed the dynamics of the game, though the 10 men held out for 24 minutes.
Hyde added goals after 76 and 88 minutes from substitutes Karl Jones and David Brown who both latched on to balls over the Mossley defence.
Then in stoppage time to add insult to injury, Mossley left-back Dieter Downey conceded a penalty for a trip on Matthew Beadle, another substitute, who picked himself up to score.