Mossley saw their play off hopes severely dented by rivals Ramsbottom United at Seel Park on Saturday.

Ramsbottom are indeed a very good team but they were aided by what can only be described as a disgusting performance by referee Mr Haycock. The ref gave Mossley absolutely nothing and compounded his awful display by bizarrely sending off Chris Denham and Sam Madeley leaving the Lilywhites to play out the game with just nine men.

The visitors were extremely lively from the off, giving Mossley no time and space on the ball to play their usual passing game. However, the Lilywhites had won two corners before Ramsbottom took the lead with their first attack on six minutes.

Lee Gaskell wasn't closed down quickly enough as he curled home an excellent 25 yard strike that gave Russ Saunders no chance.

Five minutes later Mossley should have been awarded a penalty when Chris Denham was brought down from behind just inside the box. Mr Haycock had other ideas though and gave the decision against Denham and also produced a yellow card much to Denham's shock and dismay.

Worse was to follow for Mossley when Ramsbottom won a right wing corner and Gaskell stole in at the near post to glance home a header.

If that wasn't bad enough, five minutes before the break, a midfield skirmish near the touchline saw Denham again fouled and to the great surprise of everyone in the ground the referee again gave the decision against him and to everyone's amazement then brandished a second yellow followed by red to see Denham depart from the match.

Mossley replaced Lewis Nightingale with Cavell Coo at the interval but had a mountain to climb in the second half. Even more so when Grant Spencer found the sweet spot to curl a fine goal past Saunders on 56 minutes.

Mossley then replaced Lee Rick with Danny Broadbent on 60 minutes and moments later Ramsbottom keeper Shenton did well to hold on to a fierce drive by Madeley.

Ramsbottom added a fourth goal five minutes later when Spencer again found room to slot home before Broadbent was unlucky not to reduce the arrears when his fierce angled 25 yard shot came back off the bar.

Salt was well and truly rubbed in Mossley's wounds when Madeley was fouled and then slapped and held down by Dawson which the referee failed to see. However he did see Madeley stick out a foot at the Ramsbottom player in retaliation and Mr Haycock brandished the Lilywhites 20 goal top scorer with a straight red card leaving the Lilywhites to play out the remaining uneventful 17 minutes with just nine players.

No-one would claim that Mossley deserved anything from this game but Mr Haycock made sure that the Lilywhites had absolutely no chance with his arrogant and one sided display.

Mossley now need to win both of their remaining games against Harrogate RA to have any chance of achieving a place in the end of season promotion play offs.

Report by Wizard

Smiffy's pics