This feature is called ‘Have We Met’ but when it comes to our visitors on New Year Day, Mossley, our history goes way, way back.
There have been 32 previous meetings in the semi-professional era, going all the way back to 1997 when we played each other in a floodlit tournament over two legs. We lost 4-1 – Steve Orrell scoring our only goal at Seel Park!
But we have been regular combatants since we joined the Northern Premier League in 2012 but also back in the North West Counties League days from 1997 through to 2004, when Mossley were promoted after finishing in second place behind Clitheroe.
The stats are that the Rams have won 11, Mossley 16 and there have been five draws – the last of those draws being the last time we met in a league game at Seel Park prior to this season on 1 September 2018 when Adam Jones’ 47th minute strike was cancelled out by Lee Gaskell on 63.
Our record at the Riverside is fairly good with seven wins and six defeats from the 15 games played and we lead 37-29 in the goals tally.
There has always been goals in these games – 25 in the last six games with both sides scoring as well and only twice in all of those 32 games have the Rams failed to score – a 0-2 loss at Seel Park in 2017 and the first round of the Floodlit competition in 1997 at the Riverside.
Mossley has only failed to score three times in these games – it is sure to be an end to end contest… put your money on a 0-0 draw then!
The Rams lead 67-64 in terms of head-to-head goals – that’s 131 goals in 32 matches, an average of 4.09 per game! That’s entertainment (or rubbish defending, you choose!!).
Has anyone noticed that we have written eight paragraphs so far? Sorry Mossley, but here it comes! It was the last time we met in a league fixture at the HWRS, on Boxing Day 2019 and what a festive treat it was for the 410 spectators who watched the Rams produce a stunning 7-1 victory over the Lilywhites.
Tom Kennedy, Karl Jones, Nic Evangelinos, Josh Hmami and Mason Fawns all scored while Reuben Jerome bagged a brace. Jamie Rainford scored the consolation for the visitors.
Chris Willcock, a former Mossley manager and then Rammy boss, was delighted to have secured an eighth unbeaten game in a row, especially after the disappointment of a draw at Widnes pre-Christmas.
The Rams have won four of the last five games against Mossley at home – the only Lilywhites win came in March 2018, taking a 4-2 victory away thanks to goals from Fish, Keogh, Tuohy and Dean against strikes from Stott and Jordan.
So, it’s a Happy New Year to everyone (hopefully). 2022, the start of another year and hopes abound. We won the last time we played on New Years Day, 2-1 away at Trafford in 2020. We haven’t won a home NYD game since 2013’s 3-2 win over Radcliffe Borough although we have only played one more since then, in 2019 when we lost 3-0 to Atherton Collieries, who would be promoted at the end of that season.
Let’s hope it is another bumper day at the ground, a good day, a happy day, a positive day for all.
