MOSSLEY 1, WITTON ALBION 0
A fabulous free kick from Mason Fawns proved the matchwinner as Mossley made it back-to-back victories at home to Witton Albion.
After the terrific midweek win at high-flying Trafford, it was important the Lilywhites built on that success which they did.
And a six-point haul has lifted Mossley clear of the relegation places in Pitching In Northern Premier League and up to 12th place while Witton slid into the bottom four.
In the space of four days, Mossley have transformed fortunes as manager David Fish explained: “Before these two wins, people were saying it was a bad start to the season. Now it is an okay one as we are mid-table and had a run in the FA Cup.
“Our form has been too much up and down and we have been trying to decide whether we are a poor team which has had good moments or a good team which has had poor moments.”
Mossley, on the balance of play and clear-cut chances, just about edged the clash of the bottom-half teams.
And they needed to show resolve after being reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute after Adam Sherratt picked up two bookings in the space of six minutes.
Mossley also made it back-to-back clean sheets as they again defended resolutely, this time with a numerical disadvantage.
“We showed a lot of character with 10 men,” Fish continued. “We played some good football but after the sending off we had to dig in which we did.”
Mossley were denied an early goal as Obua Mugalula was denied by a fine block by keeper Ellis Allen.
Witton created openings but never troubled Mossley stopper Finley Madigan. Their best moment of the opening period came when Owen German’s flick from a Mamadou Djabi cross flew just wide of the far post.
Mugalula went close again on the stroke of half time when his shot was pushed on to the post by Allen with Eric Yahaya’s follow-up effort blocked.
The match-winning moment came midway through the second period when German was booked for a foul about 22 yards from goal and Fawns added to the punishment by scoring from the free kick which was bent over the defensive wall into the top corner, a goal worthy of winning any match from the former Oldham Athletic player.
Witton responded as Oliver Hitchcox forced Madigan into a rare save and Djabi hit the outside of the upright with a header – it would have been some goal had he netted from the tightest of angles.
Sherratt’s sending off could have been a pivotal moment, but Witton failed to make their extra man count due which was down to Mossley’s excellent game management in the latter stages – they had clearly learned a lesson from 10-man Arsenal’s recent draw at Manchester City.