Mossley crashed out of the FA Cup in Birkenhead on Saturday in the most controversial of circumstances.
The game seemed destined for a replay when referee Mr Gooch inexplicably awarded the home side a penalty some four minutes into stoppage time for an alleged foul by Leon Henry. It was a totally ludicrous decision that cost Mossley a potential £1,500 windfall from the Eon FA Cup sponsorship and the chance of a Seel Park replay.

The referee then rubbed salt in Mossley’s wounds by sending Henry off. There were no penalty claims by Lairds players or supporters and even the referee’s assistant was heard to say that it wasn’t a penalty.
Lairds truly couldn’t believe their luck as they had been time wasting running the clock down for the previous few minutes as Mossley had looked the more likely to win the game on the day.
The first half had been an even affair with neither side showing a great deal of quality as attacking forces.
Mossley’s best spell of the game came in the second half after Chris Willcock had reorganised his attacking options. The largely ineffective Nathan McDonald and Danny Dignan were replaced at the interval by Danny Egan and Kurtis Noble with the midfield re-jigged to suit also.

It was against the run of play when Lairds took a shock 55th minute when Laird’s best move of the game opened the Mossley defence and Corrigan was able to slot home unchallenged.

Mossley stepped up their attacks and finally equalised in the 67th minute. The home keeper made a hash of clearance leaving Danny Egan facing a one on one. Egan sliced his shot however and Kurtis Noble retrieved the ball on the left wing, crossing accurately for Matty Kay to head home from six yards.

With around five minutes left on the clock Noble raced clear of the Lairds defence only to be fouled from behind by Lairds centre half and captain Jones who despite injuring himself in the tackle was shown the red card.

Sam Walker’s resulting free kick just outside the box missed the post by an inch and the game drifted innocuously towards an even conclusion before the referee's aberration cost Mossley the replay that their second half showing undoubtedly merited.

Lairds substitute Rendell scored from the spot kick as Lairds players and fans celebrated a cup win that they simply did not deserve. Quite simply put, IT WASN’T A PENALTY!

report by John Cawthorne

pics by Smiffy