Sponsored by
Match report: Mossley 3 FC Halifax Town 3
A game high on drama and controversy ended in disappointment as Town conceded a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The Shaymen showed magnificent character to come from 2-1 down to take the lead with two minutes of normal time remaining.
They had fallen behind to a bizarre goal with Leyland referee Bob Roberts overruling his linesman who had flagged for a very obvious offside.
But they looked like taking the points when Richard Marshall fired home an 88th minute penalty.
There was a very unpleasant sting in the tail, however, as Mossley bagged a late leveller from a corner, which had been conceded following a harshly awarded free kick against Aaron Hardy.
See the latest league table on the Halifax Town fixtures and results page
There was no denying that Town had been the better side throughout and at times in the second half it was difficult to work out just how the home side were keeping them at bay.
But they rarely got the bounce of the ball and paid for a couple of moments of defensive frailty.
Things started well enough with James Dean having a shot blocked before Halifax took a 10th minute lead.
Danny Lowe, who was outstanding, played a great ball through for Marshall then raced into the area to get on the end of his cross and fire home at the far post.
The lead lasted just three minutes as Mike Fish was allowed to turn in the area and square a pass for Chris McDonagh to level.
Dean was denied by some last ditch defending and Town should have had a corner when the ball was clearly cleared behind by Andy Watson, something the referee failed to spot.
Harry Winter fired over from 25 yards, Dean collected a Nicky Gray pass and fired home only to be denied by the offside flag and Tom Baker failed to get the desired connection after Lowe's free kick had been cleared.
It seemed just a matter of time before the Shaymen regained the lead, but they could not have imagined what would follow four minutes before the break.
The ball was played forward for Steve Settle who had come back from an offside position before firing home.
The linesman duly raised his flag - and kept it up - only for referee Roberts to point back to halfway.
Town's players surrounded the official, but he remained unmoved and Mossley were in front.
Gray's first time cross from the right on the stroke of half time was half-volleyed just over the bar by Lowe.
And within 20 seconds of the start of the second period Gray had thumped a shot against the base of the post.
Lowe's long-ranger deflected wide for a corner and when a defender missed a long ball from the Town defence Dean was in but could only fire straight into the keeper's arms.
The Shaymen continued to push forward with Winter doing well on the right to find Dean who pulled it back for Gray, but his shot flew wide.
Lowe played a great ball forward for Dean who lifted it over the advancing keeper only for Graham Kay to get back and clear from under his own crossbar.
And the pressure finally paid off in the 75th minute when Baker released Winter down the right.
The loan midfielder allowed the ball to bounce before pulling it back for Dean who supplied the finish for his 30th goal of the season.
Lowe fired a free kick narrowly over the bar and Marshall curled an effort narrowly wide of the far post from the left hand side as Town went in search of a winner.
And it looked like it had come with two minutes remaining when Matt Russell was judged, possibly harshly, to have brought down Marshall in the area.
The Town man kept his cool to take his league goal tally into double figures from the spot.
Four minutes of added time, ironically mainly down to the time wasting carried out by the home side when they were ahead, did the Shaymen no favours as Mossley poured men forward.
They were awarded a dubious free kick against Hardy on the edge of the area with Ben Richardson's shot hitting Lowe on its way out for a corner.
Keeper Peter Collinge raced forward ahead of the corner and he was in the vicinity when the ball was sent in from the left with Andy Watson claiming the final touch.
How crucial to the conclusion of Town's season it proves to be will only become apparent in April.
They will certainly be looking for more help from officials - or at least less unpredictability - between now and then.
STAR SHAYMAN
Danny Lowe had an outstanding night at Hurst Cross, causing Mossley problems all night long.
He started and finished the move that enabled the Shaymen to take a 10th minute lead and that set the tone for his display.
He ran tirelessly and put in telling passes on more than one occasion.
Richard Marshall gave another display of willing running - and bagged his 10th league goal into the bargain.
He certainly deserved it after helping create the opener with a great ball in from the right.
And he kept his cool to fire home from the spot, a strike he must have felt was going to be the winner.
Tom Baker was back to his best in the middle of the pitch, making challenges and riding rash tackles in equal measure.
And he was a prime mover as Town pushed on and on in the second half.
Lowe takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Marshall two and Baker one
MATCH FACTS
Mossley: Collinge, Richardson, A Russell, G Kay, Watson, M Russell, Allen, M Kay (Goodeve 85), Fish (Moore 73), McDonagh (Neequaye 75), Settle. Subs (not used): Boothby, Blackshaw.
Goals: McDonagh 13, Settle 41, Watson 90
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
FC Halifax Town: Hedge, Hardy, Codman (Phelan 56), Riley (Hotte 82), Crossley, Lowe, Gray, Baker, Winter, Marshall, Dean. Subs (not used): Senior, Sykes.
Goals: Lowe 10, Dean 75, Marshall 88pen
Booked: Dean (foul 33), Lowe (dissent 43)
Sent-off: None
Attendance: 419
Referee: Bob Roberts (Leyland)
PLAYER POINTS
Marshall 32, Gray 25, James Dean 25, Payne 19, Crossley 15, Baker 15, Lowe 14, Riley 13, Phelan 11, Hedge 10, Codman 9, Hotte 7, Hardy 6, Harry Winter 3, Richardson 3, Harrison 2, Peers 2, Luke Dean 2.
Email to a friend
Print this page- A58 crash UPDATE: road now re-open after man hit by car earlier this morning
- Crash on the A58 in Halifax this morning UPDATE: Man in hospital with several broken bones
- Taxi worker dies aged 35 after finishing his shift
- Man suffers serious injuries in accident on M62
- How the new Halifax Central Library will look
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
