MOSSLEY 1, PICKERING TOWN 0
Captain Andy Keogh led from the front single-handedly lifting Mossley back into the top 10 in north west division of the BetVictor Northern Premier League.
The midfielder turned central defender scored the only goal of the game, a spectacular strike, which beat the bottom club at Seel Park to climb to ninth place.
While the scoreline suggested it was a close contest, it was as comfortable as a 1-0 you could get as the Lilywhites moved to within three points of the play-offs.
“We had not been on a great run of results so at 1-0 it never sat comfortably, even though Pickering did not pose a threat,” explained manager Dave Wild.
Mossley, who were without new-signing Raheem Hanley who was on international duty for St Kitts and Nevis in the Gold Cup, could have taken the lead through efforts from Brad Lynch and Jes Uchegbulam before they made the all-important breakthrough in the 26th minute.
Ben Halfacre failed to find the net from a couple of yards from a corner. The ball was cleared to Keogh who bent a wonderful effort from 25 yards into the top corner, a goal worthy of winning any game.
Mossley ought to have built on their lead, but that important second goal continued to elude them.
And there was always the fear that one defensive lapse would let in Pickering whose only win of the campaign was at home to Mossley.
Ryan Brooke had three great chances to score, one forcing a fabulous save from Harrison Foulkes.
Lynch and Halfacre also went close as Mossley dominated.
Any hope Pickering had of pinching a points effectively disappeared late in the game when they had right-back Quinn Thompson sent off for two bookings.