Understrength Dromore Amateurs are defeated by high flying Mossley

However, the Amateurs knew things were going to be tough with players injured and unavailable, leading up to Saturday morning.

Manager Dean Brownlee eventually got a squad gathered and they started off on the front foot.

Inside five minutes the Amateurs took the lead when Haslem broke clear down the right and his perfect cross was headed into the top corner by the on rushing Lockhart.

Five minutes later and they could have been two up when Maguire went past his marker and a penalty could have been awarded only for the honest Maguire staying on his feet, and the keeper making a good save down low at the front post.

Mossley started to get into the game more and only for Ward in the Dromore goal they would have equalised but for two fine stops midway through the half.

Tackles were flying in with the two centre midfielders from Mossley lucky to escape cautions with late tackles on the hard working Gilliland and Downey in the middle of the park.

As the half drew to a close a cross from the right was not dealt with by the Dromore defence and the big centre forward smashed into the net past the helpless Ward in the Dromore goal to leave it 1-1 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half and Mossley had taken the lead when Dromore were sleeping at a set piece, the centre forward hit low under Ward to put them 2-1 ahead.

It was all Mossley and on 70 minutes the game was over as a contest when they notched number three, after Ward had saved but couldn’t keep out the rebound.

To their credit Dromore battled right until the end and were unfortunate not to pull one back when manager Brownlee struck a free kick which the keeper did well to tip over the bar.

Manager Brownlee was quick to comment after the game that the guys that came in to the squad from the second team had given their all and couldn’t fault them for effort.

There is a massive game ahead this Saturday when Dromore travel to bottom side Newington Rangers where three points is a must to make sure they give themselves every chance of staying in 1C.