They think it is all over: Issac Baldwin and Ryan Hall celebrate’s Brighouse’s third goal in the 3-2 win over Mossley
Brighouse Town had to endure a nervy finish to their 3-2 victory over Mossley, despite dominating proceedings in the Evo Stik Division One North encounter.
The home side were three goals to the good on the hour, but a poor Mossley side somehow managed to score twice late-on to give Brighouse the jitters.
Brute force was the key factor in the opening goal after just four minutes.
Ernest Boafo brushed off two Mossley defenders to steam into the penalty box before unleashing a thunderbolt into the roof of the net.
Mossley were unlucky when John Bennett’s goal-bound effort was blocked, but on a whole the away side were far from the side which had lost just one game out of their last eleven games.
For a large majority of the game, Mossley were arguing between themselves and that allowed Brighouse to take control.
Ryan Hall was a constant menace for the Mossley defence
Tyrone Gay puts the ball wide from close range
Brighouse’s Ben Thornton stops former Farsley striker Sam Robinson in his tracks
In a long period of pressure, Issac Baldwin wasted two chances, while Boafo forced an excellent save out of Liam Flynn.
Mossley did briefly breach the Brighouse defence with Poyra Ahmadi racing through. Ahmadi put the ball wide from a good position.
As half-time approached, Brighouse caught the visitors out with a quick counter-attack. The move finished with Baldwin slotting the ball through former Stocksbridge goalkeeper Flynn’s legs and into the net.
Brighouse carried in the same vein in the second half. Dangerous winger Ryan Hall spent the afternoon taking the Mossley defenders to the cleaners.
He was turning them inside and out throughout the 90 minutes as they couldn’t handle him. For the third goal, his speed and skill took him into a shooting position and the youngster was unlucky when his attempt came back off-the-post.
Fortunately Baldwin was on hand to score from the rebound.
Brighouse hit-man Ernest Boafo strikes for goal during the first half
Issac Baldwin celebrates scoring Brighouse’s second goal
Baldwin scores the rebound for the third goal after Hall’s shot hit the post
Mossley couldn’t handle Brighouse striker Ernest Boafo
The home side appeared to be on the brink of their biggest win of the season as Boafo and others continued to cause mayhem.
Mossley held out and Brighouse goalkeeper Jacob Giles gifted them an unlikely way back by spilling a poorly-taken free kick. Ahmadi pounced and scored on 65 minutes.
Brighouse had to face a nervous last ten minutes as Ahmadi headed home at the back-post.
The home side defended resolutely with Mossley throwing bodies forward.
Tom Platt came the closest to scoring for Mossley with a long range attempt.
A late equaliser would have been extremely harsh on Brighouse, who saw the game out professionally.
Paul Quinn’s men could have even added a fourth. Hall left the Mossley defence for dead in a late surge and it took an excellent save from Flynn to deny him.
The win keeps Brighouse above the two Ossett’s, Town and Albion, in the table.
Brighouse Town manager Paul Quinn:
“It should have been far more comfortable, but we can’t take anything away from the way we have played today.
“The positive was the performance and I think we were superb.
“We could have managed the game better, but I think we were let down by a poor decision for the second goal because for me it was a blatant foul.
“Having said that, we could have killed it off with a couple more goals.
“It was increasingly nervy, but showed good character to grind the result out.
“I was disappointed that we weren’t further ahead at half-time, but the way we played, particularly in attack, it was superb.”
Brighouse Town: Giles, Hewitt, Fisher, Gay, Wilson, Thornton, Hall, Harris (Hull 67), Boafo, Baldwin (Tolley 78), Henry (captain) (Vinten 86). Subs unused: Field, Porter.
Mossley: Flynn, Henson, Bennett, Dean, Granite (Warburton HT), McGongle, Robinson (Purcell 58), Barrow, (Anderson 66), Keogh (captain), Pratt, Ahmadi. Subs unused: McDonnell, Farrimond.
Referee: Peter Sporne (South Yorkshire)
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 138
Man of the match: Ernest Boafo (Brighouse Town)