Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Charlie Frost's 90th-minute penalty — won and converted by the same player — gave Mossley a 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Radcliffe at Seel Park.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Radcliffe started the brighter side and created the first clear chance inside seven minutes. A Mossley clearance struck the foot of Jordan Hulme and fell to Max McCarthy, whose first-time strike forced a smart save from the home goalkeeper to tip the ball over the bar.
McCarthy went close again midway through the half. Lois Maynard's long pass picked out Hulme, who squared across the box for McCarthy, but his first-time effort drifted narrowly wide. Ben Collins then drove a powerful run down the left before finding Hulme, whose lay-off set up McCarthy for another first-time shot from the edge of the area — again well saved by the Mossley goalkeeper.
Rio Clegg had the final chance of the first half, played through inside the area, but fired high and wide. The sides went in level at 0-0.
Radcliffe made ten changes at the interval, with Tom Donaghy the only player to remain on the pitch to complete his first full 90 minutes for Bernard Morley's side.
Kyle Hawley came closest for the Boro after the restart, racing onto a through ball with the goalkeeper stranded off his line, but the shot-stopper recovered to deny the new signing. Hawley later picked out Sargent on the edge of the area, and after a one-two with Greenfield, the Welshman found himself through on goal — only for a last-ditch challenge to deflect his effort behind for a corner.
The Turning Point
With minutes remaining and the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Charlie Frost turned sharply inside the penalty area and was challenged by a Radcliffe defender. The referee judged it a foul and pointed to the spot.
Frost stepped up and powered the penalty into the bottom-right corner. Donaghy got a hand to the strike but could not keep it out, handing Mossley a 1-0 victory in the dying moments.
Key Performers
Charlie Frost (Mossley) — Won the penalty with a smart turn in the box and dispatched it with composure past Donaghy, the only goal of the game.
Max McCarthy (Radcliffe) — Caused the Mossley defence problems throughout the first half with three clear chances, denied twice by the goalkeeper and once by the post.
Tom Donaghy (Radcliffe) — Played the full 90 minutes as the only player to stay on after the interval, and almost kept a clean sheet before Frost's spot-kick beat him despite getting a hand to it.
Kyle Hawley (Radcliffe) — A lively second-half substitute performance, twice creating danger with his pace, though he could not find the finish.
By the Numbers
The single goal in the 90th minute tells the story of a tightly contested friendly where defences largely held firm. Radcliffe created the clearer chances — particularly in the first half — but could not convert their dominance into a goal. Mossley grew into the game in the second period and eventually found a way through from 12 yards. The match finished with no cards, reflecting the pre-season nature of the contest.
What It Means
For Mossley, the victory provides a positive start to their pre-season campaign. Radcliffe saw their unbeaten pre-season run end, but manager Bernard Morley will take encouragement from the performance, particularly a first half that created multiple clear opportunities. Tom Donaghy's full 90 minutes is a notable fitness milestone.
Radcliffe's next pre-season fixture is on Friday 17 July against Shrewsbury Town at the Isle of Man's Ballacloan Stadium. Their National League North season begins on 8 August against Spalding United at the Neuven Stadium.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly decided by a single moment of penalty-box sharpness. Radcliffe will rue the chances they created without taking them, but the volume of substitutions and the experimental nature of the game make it a useful fitness exercise rather than a concerning result. Mossley's late win gives them a platform to build on.
Match Events
Mossley and Radcliffe have met 1 times — Mossley won 0, Radcliffe won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2021. Radcliffe leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 3 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (1 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 1–2 in 2021.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 Jul 2026