REPORT | Mossley 2-3 Widnes

Conor Ready netted a 93rd minute winner as Widnes booked their place in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup with a dramatic 3-2 win at Mossley.

In one of the most pulsating FA Cup ties you’re ever likely to see, Widnes led 2-0 early in the second half when James Steele added to Ready’s sixth-minute opener.

Mossley’s Ben Halfacre was then sent off for throwing a punch, but the Lilywhites soon halved the deficit when Adam Jones netted from close-range.

Then came one of the most extraordinary ends to a football match ever seen in the FA Cup. Mossley substitute Ryan Brooke saw red for a reckless challenge, but Dave Wild’s side levelled through former Liverpool striker Adam Morgan, sparking jubilant scenes and a premature pitch invasion.

The nine-man Lilywhites had seemingly taken the tie to extra time, but more drama was still to come with Ready netting his second and an incredible Widnes winner to set up a first round qualifying tie at home to Whitby Town this weekend.

A few unsavoury scenes followed when a Mossley fan invaded the pitch seemingly in an attempt to confront Widnes keeper Owen Wheeler, only to be marshalled off the pitch by another supporter, but the visiting Whites didn’t care after recording their first-ever FA Cup win.

Co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey were forced into one change from the side that drew at Marske United last time out, with Danny Ventre once again deputising at right-back for the unavailable Jay Roberts.

Widnes made a flying start. Steele was instrumental in the build-up, producing a lung-busting run to get in behind the Mossley defence. He teed up Ready to fire home a somewhat fortuitous opener, with the ball bouncing beneath the body of goalkeeper Dylan Forth on its way in.

In truth, Widnes produced an exceptional first half performance and could have been out of sight at half-time. The Whites worked a decent opening midway through the half with Ready seeing a shot charged down, with strong appeals for handball waved away by referee Adam Brown.

Mossley only had a long-range Nicky Platt effort well-saved by Wheeler and Morgan firing into the side-netting to show for their first half efforts in which they were dominated by an impressive Widnes side.

Ben Hodkinson would force Forth into a relatively comfortable on the half-hour mark, moments before racing clear, looking certain to add a Widnes second only to drag his chipped effort off target.

The in-form Widnes marksman would have been disappointed not to have scored, but he came again on the stroke of half-time only to be denied by Forth with Steele unable to connect with the rebound.

Into the second half, Widnes picked up where they left off as Ready threaded a pass through to Josh Klein-Davies for an early chance, but the striker perhaps snatched at his effort, blazing high and wide of the target.

With the words of manager Wild still ringing in their ears, Mossley rallied and put Widnes under the cosh inside the opening 10 minutes of the half.

Wheeler had to be alert to push a Platt daisy-cutter away to safety, before producing a magnificent diving save minutes later to deny a venomous effort from Simon Lenighan after Morgan had an effort blocked.

But Widnes, ever-so dangerous on the counter-attack, punished their hosts with a second goal. Hodkinson skipped clear down the left and evaded the offside trap. He advanced into the area and squared for Steele to tap his first Widnes goal into an empty net.

Mossley were then reduced to 10-men as Halfacre was shown a straight red card by referee Brown for throwing an apparent strike at Danny Shaw after handbags followed a challenge.

Credit to the hosts however, as most teams would have folded at this stage, Mossley rallied and pulled a goal back. Jes Uchegbulam’s cross was nodded back inside by Morgan for defender Jones to fire home to give the 10-man Lilywhites a lifeline.

Wild rolled the dice with the attack-minded introduction of forward Brooke in place of left-back Richardson and bringing on full-back Dieter Downey for the defensively minded Platt in midfield.

Chances were then few and far between. Substitutes Harry Brazel and Lewis Buckley brought renewed energy to the visitors who lacked a clinical edge going forward, while Mossley brought on striker Max Leonard in search of an equaliser.

Tensions continued to rise. Downey was booked for a late challenge on Danny Ventre, while Widnes skipper Sam Sheen also saw yellow for a sliding tackle on Uchegbulam.

Emotions were at fever pitch as stoppage time approached, with substitute Brooke shown his marching orders for a reckless challenge on Keenan Quansah, with the Lilywhites forced to play out the remainder of the game with nine-men.

But Mossley stayed in the game and snatched a late leveller. It was a touch of class from Morgan, who engineered half a yard for a snapshot that nestled in the bottom corner, sparking a pitch invasion from behind the goal in scenes of celebration.

There was still more drama to come. Perhaps motivated by a very premature pitch invasion, Widnes went down the other and nicked a late winner. Ready, superb on the night, received a cross from the left and applied a neat finish beyond Forth to send the travelling Widnes supporters wild and breaking Mossley hearts.

The reward for Widnes’ dramatic victory is £2,890 in prize money and a home tie in the next round against Whitby Town, anticipated to be played this Saturday at the Halton Stadium.