Alex Low was unfortunate to score an own goal in Harrogate’s defeat at Mossley. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Alex Low’s own goal sent Mossley through in the FA Trophy at Harrogate Railway’s expense.
The only goal came in unfortunate circumstances 15 minutes from time when Caldon Henson’s low cross deflected off the legs of Low and past Tom Goodwin into the net.
Railway’s best chances of the match had fallen to Dan Thirkell at the end of the first half and substitute Dan Barrett in the dying stages, but neither were taken and Mossley will now face Darlington in the next round.
Just four of Mossley’s starting 11 had started September’s 2-0 loss at Station View, while Lee Ashforth made two changes from Monday’s tie with Glossop North End.
After a quiet opening quarter of an hour, Mossley had the first glimpse of goal when Henson’s floated cross was met by the head of Dave Short, although the striker’s header was easily caught.
The returning Lawrance Hunter’s set pieces had caused problems to the Mossley back line with one delivery in particular being punched clear by Liam Flynn with Thirkell waiting to pounce.
Short then scuffed a shot into the side netting and Sam Robinson’s effort on the turn was wayward before the game’s first attempt on target arrived in the 33rd minute.
Lee Wilshaw’s volleyed effort from the edge of the box was straight at Goodwin however, before Scott Kay blasted over a minute later.
Railway came close to taking the lead when Jack Stockdill got forward down the right and rolled a clever pass into the path of Charlie Clamp on the edge of the area. The midfielder hit a sweet first time shot that forced Flynn to produce the save of the match and tip over for a corner.
The visitors had the best chance of the half two minutes before the break when Harry Brown’s slide rule pass met Thirkell’s bursting run forward, although the Railway Captain’s chipped finish didn’t find the net.
Five minutes into the second half and Clamp was again teed up on the edge of the box, this time by Brown, though the midfielder’s strike was too high on this occasion.
The start of the second half had been similar to the first, with no real chances for either side, as Kay fizzed a shot over the bar after cutting inside from the left on the hour mark.
With just under 20 minutes to play, Mossley players were enraged when the linesman raised his flag to disallow Short’s goal after the striker had smashed home following a flicked on long throw.
Mossley were beginning to have the best of the game with Robinson shooting into the arms of Goodwin who was then needed to make a low save, and again deny Short getting on the scoresheet.
The hosts’ pressure paid off with just 15 minutes to play when Henson’s low cross was missed by Louis Horne and bounced into the back of the net off the legs of Low before the defender had time to adjust his feet.
The Lilywhites almost put the tie to bed two minutes later when one way traffic towards the Railway goal resulted in Goodwin rushing out to clear the ball towards Henson on the edge of the area who shot wide with Railway’s stopper out of position.
Railway then created a chance to pull level after Horne had nodded a long ball into the path of 78th minute substitute Barrett, although the striker’s finish on the stretch went agonisingly wide.
With Railway piling men forward looking to earn a replay, Sharrocks’ in-swinging cross was almost met by Barrett, though that was to be the last threat posed by Railway as Goodwin was forced to make one final save at his near post to deny Doug Carroll at the other end.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Pells (Ibrahimi 59), Hunter, Low, Clamp (Barrett 78), Horne, Stockdill, Thirkell, Bromley (Sharrocks 54), Brown, Dhesi. Subs unused: Kidd, Wood.
Referee: D. Rogers
Attendance: 107
Thanks to Hall Boxhall-Dockree for this report.
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