Sophie Coates’ brace to take her onto 29 goals proved not enough for a positive result as Dale suffered just their fourth loss in 11 games.
Darcy Moran was handed her second debut for the club after her move from Atherton Laburnum Rovers. Alicia Barnett took a knock in the warm-up and was replaced in the starting XI, however was fit enough for a place on the bench.
The beginning of the game was electric for Dale and for Coates, the forward getting onto the end of a through ball from the returning Moran. The ball over the top was latched onto by the in-form forward who slotted away with ease to open the scoring inside two minutes.
Dale looked comfortable early on but were made to pay 13 minutes in as a Mossley penalty was awarded with the home side making no mistake from the spot.
Dale tried to respond straight away with a brilliant move starting from Moran, who won a free-kick in a very dangerous position. The following attempt from Ellie Southworth was low and instinctively Gracie Smith turned towards goal but it went agonisingly close to restoring the lead.
Just four minutes after levelling, Mossley scored again. A shot from 30 yards out deflected off Smith and looped over Leah Jackson in the Dale net to turn the game on it’s head.
Dale switched to a back four and gained control of the game. Chance after chance, Dale looked to be closing in on a second, to make it all square at the break.
Phoebe Duckworth on the left wing, broke free and found herself one-on-one with the defender. She sold her marker, but the eventual shot dribbled into the keeper’s hands.
Before the break, Dale had another chance to make it even and with striker Coates driving into the middle but unable to generate the power on the strike to trouble the goalkeeper.
As the second half grew, Mossley Hill, started to build confidence and had a few chances to extend their lead.
A shot from Mossley’s striker, was brilliantly saved by Jackson, keeping Dale to within one goal with a wonderful save.
However, they weren’t to be deterred for long as Mossley Hill’s Mollie Farley, unleashed a long-range effort which flew into the top corner to give the Merseyside outfit a two-goal buffer.
Rochdale, started to get more chances to pull one back, and the introduction of Gracie Lawler up front provided another route of finding a way back into the game.
Gracie was straight into the action and was very influential for Dale’s second goal. She caused chaos in the area and who else but Coates to react quickest to bag another brace with just over 20 minutes to go.
It was all the away side and they had the chance to square the game, as Coates did put the ball in the back of the net, after a wonderful header although she was deemed to be in an offside position.
Mossley Hill would hold on for all three points despite a spirited end to the game which moves them to within two points of Dale who missed out on the chance to claim third spot.
After the game, manager Lee Atkinson felt it was a tough day at the office for his team, who can take the positives from the performance.
“It was a difficult one to take”, says Atkinson.
“I felt we did a lot of things right today but a cheap penalty to give away and two unbelievable strikes from the opposition is the difference.
“The third goal that was given offside seemed clearly onside too but it’s one of those days in football.”
In the second half, Dale created enough chances to get more from this game, but it wasn’t to be.
“I think we rushed a bit too much in possession today but that’s also credit to the opposition they really did work hard and make things difficult for us.
“Our effort was there but I just felt we needed a bit more in front of goal.
“They put their chances away we will regroup and look ahead to the Atherton game next week in the Challenge Cup.”
Erin Whyte, who had to come off halfway through the second-half through injury, also gave us some words after the game.
“I’ve got a bit of bruising around my eye, but it’s stayed in a small area and isn’t too bad thankfully.
“So, all in all, good on the injury front and ready to go again at the weekend.”
Dale’s next game sees them take on Atherton in the cup and Whyte is ready for the battle.
“If I’m honest, I’m feeling confident going into the next game despite this loss.
“If we play our quick passing game and press high like we know we can, with a strong work rate and keeping each other positive, we can definitely progress into the next round.
“We pushed hard to beat them last time, and don’t get me wrong, I know it’ll be another tough battle but if we keep fighting together as a team, we’ll come out on top and prove we deserve the win.”
Dale XI | Jackson, Strudwick (c), E.Jones, Malpus, Whyte, Smith, Moran, Coates, Duckworth, Mason, Southworth
Subs | Hunt, Lawler, Burke, Barnett
