Down thirds were forced to start this Junior 7 game with just eight players.

But they managed to put up a brave fight to secure a point at the end of an eight-goal thriller which had drama and excitement throughout.

The visitors took the lead in the 20th minute after Trevor Lennon failed to spot a forward behind him and he picked his spot past David Moreland. But Down rallied within 30 seconds and were back on level terms when J. B. Wade popped unmarked at the back post to fire home a Gary Brown cross.

The home side, who relied on the experienced Cecil Telford up front, were grateful to the veteran striker who put his side into the lead with 10 minutes to go before the interval. Telford drove home after he picked up a cross and drilled the ball into the corner of the net in customary fashion.

Any hope Down had of going into the break ahead were dashed when Mossley made it 2-2 after the home defence was again guilty of not clearing its line and the ball was fired past Moreland.

Down got their noses back in front within minutes of the restart when Wade scored his second of the game after he once again popped up unmarked at the back post to deflect the ball into the net.

But back came Mossley to level the game at 3-3 when they were awarded a penalty stroke after a goal-bound was stopped illegally on the line. From the spot, Moreland was beaten despite a brave attempt to keep the ball out.

Incredibly, there were more goals to come and the irrepressible Telford had in hand in his side's fourth goal which was scored by Wade to complete his hat-trick.

He whipped the ball into the penalty area and while Wade's initial shot was saved, he somehow managed to squeeze himself between the net minder and a defender to force the ball over the line.

With a slender one-goal advantage, Down were keen to hang on and they had to thank Moreland for making a number of important blocks, but with less than two minutes to go, Mossley hit back again to make it 4-4 when the Down defence was once again punished for not clearing its lines.