THESE familiar foes met again tonight, Tuesday, in an FA Trophy replay after playing out a draw on Sunday.
Farsley Celtic await the victors.
Vics, who included Godwin Abadaki in their starting line-up for the first time following his return to the club from Nantwich, survived an early scare when Dave Short fired narrowly wide before Mike Fish’s header hit an upright.
However the hosts gradually worked their way back into the contest, taking the lead shortly after the half-hour.
Jamie Hinchliffe kept calm to steer smartly past Liam Flynn, the visitors’ goalkeeper, after Michael Brewster had sent him clear.
Mossley hauled themselves level four minutes into the second period after Vics full-back Lanre Olopade tripped Tom Pratt inside the penalty area, leaving Fish to slam home the resulting spot kick.
Northwich were then reduced to 10 men when Simon Lakeland, manager Adam’s brother, was sent off as punishment for a reckless tackle on Mark Haslam.
The visitors applied pressure as they searched for a winner with Fish, Short and substitute Robert Bourne all going close.
"We anticipated a difficult game and that's exactly what it was," said Lakeland afterwards.
"The way the players reacted after Simon was sent off is fantastic.
"We had to adapt, work hard and defend well - which I felt we did - while restricting them to mostly efforts from range."
Vics | Springthorpe (GK), Olopade, Nolan, Fitzgerald, Regan, Brewster, Simon Lakeland, Abadaki, Hughes (Edwards 86), Hinchliffe, Gyimah (Clarke 78) Subs not used Hill (GK), Mudimu Goal Hinchliffe 32
Mossley | Flynn (GK), Harrison, Haslam, Jeffs, McGonigle (Harper 43), Fish, Hill (Bourne 46), Bove, Keogh, Short (Gosling 74), Pratt Subs not used McDonnell, Benjamin Goal Fish 49 (penalty) Booked Harper
Referee Luke Watson
Attendance 132
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