Bucks Struggle At Seel Park

Credit: Joe Matthews

By Brendan Doyle

Within the first ten minutes of the game The Bucks started the game off attempting to make themselves known at Seel Park, Ben Hodkinson had the ball in Mossley’s final third and proceeded to cut in on his stronger left foot and tried his luck with a curled effort but Mossley keeper Finlay Madigan made it nothing more than catching practice of the shot. Just over a minute later a ball floated in from the left hand side to Jordan Lussey who got a good connection via a header but it fell just wide, as Bootle were looking to establish themselves as the aggressor in the game, disaster struck.

Goalkeeper Tony Thompson failed to clear the ball from his own area after receiving a pass back which led to Eric Yahaya having the ball but was then brought down in the area by Thompson and the referee Abid Hussain awarded a penalty to the hosts, which Yahaya then converted to put his side 1-0 up. However for the remainder of the half chances did fall for Bootle, Sean Williams stepped up to take a free kick from a very similar angle to which he scored against City Of Liverpool but this time his effort only skied the frame of the goal. Ben Hodkinson took a first time shot after capitalising on a defensive error but it just tapped the crossbar, but Mossley would finish the half 2-0 up after scoring a header from a corner as Eric Yahaya was unmarked and took advantage.

Just seconds after kick off for the second half, Eric Yahaya struck an effort on his left foot which just tapped the far post of Tony Thompson, inches away from completing a classic hat trick. Despite the very early danger in the second half set by Mossley, The Bucks still made an attempt to claw a goal back as Sam Hughes took a chance outside the area but his effort was blocked yards in front of goal. There were also shouts for a Bootle penalty from Sean Williams after coming into contact with Gedeao Valera but the referee didn’t agree with the claims.

As the game approached the later stages Bootle won a corner still in hope of a miracle come back, as the ball was whipped in Lewis Earl met it with a header but it only fell wide. A couple of minutes later at the other end Mossley’s Sean Kgwakgwa found the opportunity to have a shot outside the area but only blazed his effort way over. Lewis Earl managed to hoof a long ball from his own final third to Mossley’s in an effort to find used substitute Courtney Duffus but he just couldn’t meet the pass.

The scoreline finished 2-0 to Mossley and Bootle now sit five points above the relegation zone with four games to go.