MOSSLEY 1, ABBEY HEY 1
(Mossley won 4-2 on penalties)
Mossley scraped through to the second round of the Manchester Premier Cup by the skin of their teeth at home to minnows Abbey Hey.
Second best for much of the match against opponents two divisions lower in the football pyramid, the Lilywhites emerged victors following a penalty shootout.
After captain Andy Keogh had the first kick of the deciders saved, Mossley were otherwise faultless as Adam Morgan, Simon Lenighan, Ben Richardson and Gary Gee all netted.
Abbey Hey missed their first two kicks – Dylan Norris hit a post and Burnley U18 player Edon Pruti had an effort saved by debutant goalkeeper Theo Roberts – and that proved decisive.
The visitors took an 11th minute lead after Roberts failed to gather a free kick and Luke Hincks, son on manager Terry and a former Mossley academy player, scrambled home the loose ball.
Mossley were level after Ben Halfacre, lurking at the far post, converted a cross from Jes Uchegbulam.
The Lilywhites lost midfielder Paul Marshall shortly before half time for what appeared a serious knee injury.
It was distressing for fans to hear his shouts of pain as he went down with nobody in close proximity as he get his studs caught in the turf.
Abbey Hey had three great chances to take the lead in the second half, two were blazed over and one blocked as they were the better side.
But in the 89th minute Mossley almost snatched a last-gasp victory when Declan Evans’ free header flew narrowly wide from an Eliot Goldthorp corner.