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Vaughan late leveller keeps City in chase

2/ 1/2003

North West Counties Division One

Salford City 1

Mossley 1

LEAGUE leaders Prescot Cables will be happier with this result played out by two of their main rivals than either of the Salford or Mossley management teams, writes Frank McCauley.

However, over the 90 minutes both Gary Buckley - in the absence of Andy Brown - and Ally Pickering were happy to settle for the draw in a game which entertained both sets of supporters.

The match exploded into action after two minutes when Salford old boy Tony Carroll rattled Jamie McVey's crossbar from six yards out. Twenty minutes later he combined with Ciaran Kilheeney to set up his strike partner to give Mossley the lead.

City had their share of possession leading up to half time but it was Chris Willcock who went closest bringing a good save out of Rob Hackney.

City took the game to the visitors in the second period without having a lot of luck in front of goal. A good ball delivered into the heart of the penalty area was flashed just wide of the post by Mattie Hughes. On the hour it seemed as if Hughes had gained a penalty but the referee looked to his assistant for guidance before waving play on.

Willcock and David Chadwick both had good efforts blocked by defenders before Graham Vaughan lashed home the equaliser eight minutes from time, Brown threaded a great ball into the box and Chadwick bravely hooked it across a crowded six-yard box for Vaughan to administer the coup de grace.

The final minutes kept Moor Lane's biggest crowd of the season on edge as both defences cleared last-gasp efforts. Mossley almost grabbed the winner but Paul Robertson cleared off the line.

The sides meet again on Saturday at Moor Lane (3pm) in the Worthington Cup quarter-finals.

On Boxing Day goals from David Chadwick, Graham Vaughan and Tony Cullen helped City beat Curzon Ashton 3-1 away.