MOSSLEY 2, RUNCORN LINNETS 1
Gritty Mossley fought from behind to beat Runcorn Linnets in their opening home BetVictor Northern Premier League, north west division game of the season.
Second-half goals from Nicky Platt and Ryan Brooke helped complete a turnabout as the Lilywhites ground out a hard-earned victory.
“We were below par for 50 minutes and then everything clicked. We were lot quicker and cuter in the second half,” explained manager Dave Wild who added it was important to register a first win.
“If somebody told me we would pick up four points from our first two games, I would have accepted that.
“We have real quality in the squad but it has not clicked yet. When it does, we will be in a really good place.”
Mossley could have taken an early lead when Adam Jones struck an upright.
But their defence was statuesque as Jamie Rainford converted a Paul Shanley cross after quarter of an hour to put Linnets ahead.
Rainford later missed an open goal as Mossley lived dangerously and were lucky to be only 1-0 behind at the break.
The turnabout came about as Mossley scored twice in seven second-half minutes with former Liverpool player Adam Morgan providing the assists for both.
Morgan provided a delightful chip for Platt to head home the leveller and delivered the corner for Brooke to score the winner through a close-range header.
Late on Mossley keeper Dylan Forth made a decent save to turn over Shanley’s header through Mossley were rarely troubled after a much-improved second-half showing.
- Mossley have signed former Stalybridge Celtic defender Lewis Hatch. The 25-year-old, who has been training with the club for several weeks, has not played for 18 months.