Mossley stepped into the exciting world of FA Cup football on Saturday when the Lilywhites entertained North West Counties League early pacesetters Bootle at Seel Park. The Merseyside club started their season, albeit a Division below Mossley, with four wins and a draw in their opening five games.
The visitors are not total strangers to Mossley as their player-manager Neil Prince is a former team mate of Mossley boss Steve Halford at Droylsden. Despite the opposition’s lower league status, Halford will be taking no chances and will be guarded against any complacency against what’s expected to be big physical opposition.
There wasn’t just a place in the next round of the Cup at stake as the winners of the tie received £1,750 as part of the Budweiser sponsorship of the national competition, which then rises to £3,000 for victory in the next round with a home tie against the winners of Staveley MW or Bamber Bridge.
The Lilywhites have opened their season impressively with two victories from two games having beaten Bamber Bridge and Cammell Laird in their first two games. Halford will be without midfield dynamo Jay Gorton who is away at a family wedding though it is hoped that the versatile Ben Richardson will return after missing Tuiesday’s win at Camnmell Laird through illness. The Lilywhites were otherwise at full strength.
Providing there are no draws in the FA Cup at weekend Mossley will then face neighbours and rivals Curzon Ashton at Seel Park on Tuesday evening (7.45 pm). Curzon, managed by one time Mossley boss John Flanagan, are again one of the favourites to challenge at the top of the Evo-stik League this season and as far as Mossley are concerned it will be viewed as a benchmark game as far as the Lilywhites prospects for the season are concerned.
For results and other fixture information, please visit Mossley AFCs website.
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