League 1C: Mossley F. C. 1 Bryansburn Rangers 1

1sts drew 1-1 with Mossley F.C. in an uninspiring encounter at the Recreation Grounds. Early success and open end to end play promised a goal-fest but, despite having more chances, Bryansburn couldn’t turn their dominance into 3 points.

            The first 12 minutes were all ‘Burn: Tolson and Ballantyne were running the home side ragged down the wings and a steady supply of balls from Coard and C. Cooling were pinning the home side in their own half. A vicious Parkes 12 yard shot which the Mossley keeper could only parry allowed Stannex to slot home for 1-0 after ten minutes and was followed by a Ballantyne run and chip which was bundled onto the post for a corner but thereafter the tide turned. A Mossley chip beat Close only to be scrambled off the Bryansburn line by Parkes and then, with 20 minutes gone, Ballantyne was unlucky to deflect a low cross into his own goal for 1-1. Things could have been worse but for another Close save in the 25^th and some last-ditch defensive work from Gray and A. Cooling but eventually ‘Burn resumed the offensive led by some energetic runs from A. McMullan and Parkes. C. Cooling saw two free-kicks collected by the ‘keeper and the goalie made a brilliant diving save from a Morrison header before shepherding another effort from the striker over the bar but the half-time whistle saw no change to the1-1 score.

            Close was called into action immediately on the re-start clearing a suicidal back-pass with inches to spare and ‘Burn found some success with both Cooling and Morrison seeing their shots saved in the 46^th minute and the striker denied again by the keeper in the 47^th. The game settled down to a long-ball affair with the Mossley centre-half happy to clear everything thrown at him and their keeper pleased to catch 3 high free-kicks and a handful of over-hit passes while ‘Burn’s progress on the flanks usually faltered without a telling pass or cross. R. McMullan made another cameo appearance, replacing Stannex, and Higginson replaced Ballantyne but while Bryansburn had more of the play they had a single Coard effort, a near-miss from Morrison and a header from a corner to show for their efforts.  Mossley replied with a miscue from a free header and a couple of wide shots but neither side could make the breakthrough.

`           Best for ‘Burn: Tolson stuck to his task despite a string of brutal challenges, Coard with another energetic midfield performance but overall a typical season end showing from a squad clearly feeling the effects of 6 games in 15 days.