Football: Mozelewski the hero as Anchor hold on for victory

CHEADLE Town End were left suffering deja vu when Anchor Inn scraped a tight victory to keep their promotion ambition alive.

A last-minute strike from Karl Dudley gave Anchor a 3-2 win on the opening day of the season – after Town End had missed a penalty just 60 seconds earlier.

And Sunday's encounter was similarly tense.

A Rob Brown penalty and a Tom Young strike had seemed to set the home side on course to a comfortable three points. But Adam Seabridge grabbed a goal from close range with 10 minutes left to set up a nail-biting finale.

Only a stunning performance from Rob Mozelewski, in the Anchor goal, and brave defending from Dan Knight and Tom Unwin ensured a positive result for Anchor.

The Tean side now sit third in Division Two, just a point behind village rivals Tean Wanderers.

Dudley made only his second appearance for Anchor since his goal-scoring start to the season and helped his side take the game to Town End.

Brown was soon given the opportunity for a breakthrough after his twisting and turning in the area drew a rash challenge.

Referee Roger Pettit pointed to the spot and the 24-year-old forward dusted himself down to stroke the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Pettit was under pressure to award another penalty minutes later when Young sprang on to Dave Hubszer's through-ball and looked to round visiting keeper Sam Gavin.

Gavin sprawled at the attacker's feet and sent Young flying, but Pettit waved away the protests.

Young did make it two before half-time, however, when he threw himself into Brown's low cross and bundled the ball home from five yards.

The pacy striker had a chance to put the game to bed after the interval when he found himself with only Gavin to beat during a swift counter-attack.

However, his low shot struck the foot of the post and bounced to safety.

Town End upped the pressure and deservedly found a way back into the match through Seabridge.

But, all too familiarly for Town End boss Howard Heath, time was not on the his side as an inspired Mozelewski thwarted waves of attacks.

Anchor, sponsored by Allsop Construction Ltd, travel to TB Elkes this Sunday before a crunch clash against Wanderers on February 7.

Joint-boss Brown is eager to keep his squad's feet on the ground as they challenge for a return to the top flight at the first attempt.

He said: "We have two big games ahead."